Gus Dur refuses to aid Wiranto

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid on Monday refused to support senior minister Gen. Wiranto, who faces growing accusations of complicity, at home and abroad, in the campaign of terror and massive destruction in East Timor in September.

Abdurrahman told reporters that he would allow the investigation into Wiranto to run its full course, and let the court decide the fate of his coordinating minister for political affairs and security.

"I will not be swayed by any temptation. What is important is that we have to accept the decision of the court," he said during a ceremony to mark the 62nd anniversary of Antara, the state news agency. He added that if Wiranto was found guilty by the court, then he would ask for his resignation.

He was answering to a question on his position regarding the accusation made by KPP-HAM, the government-sponsored independent inquiry into the violence in East Timor, that Wiranto, who was the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief in September, was responsible for "omission" that allowed the violence to erupt.

The commission has requested Abdurrahman's permission to question Wiranto and a number of other TNI generals in connection with the mayhem in East Timor, perpetrated by pro-Indonesia militias after they lost the Aug. 30 self-determination vote to proindependence groups.

Its preliminary finding tallied with that of a United Nations inquiry which is looking into the possibility of a setting up a war crimes tribunal for Indonesian generals.

The commission has the full support of the National Commission on Human Rights, which is chaired by Marzuki Darusman, who is also the attorney general in the President's Cabinet.

TNI and its supporters had lashed out at both commissions for their criticism of the military leadership, accusing them of bowing to international pressure.

Wiranto and the other generals implicated have retained the services of top national lawyers to represent them in the investigation, which is expected to start later in the week.

Separately, a senior TNI regional commander warned on Monday that any decision to question Wiranto and the other generals must be based on strong evidence.

"Now it seems that the generals are being tried by the public. We should avoid a public trial," Wirabuana/South Sulawesi Military chief Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah said after a hearing with the House of Representatives' Commission I for political affairs and security.

Agus admitted, however, that the generals should take responsibility for the action of their subordinates. "No officers are guilty, their commanders are guilty," he said at the hearing.

The military has also come under strong attacks for alleged atrocities in Aceh. The government has agreed to set up a joint civil/military tribunal to try soldiers who are responsible for possible human rights abuses in Aceh.

Agus called on the TNI leadership to ask for people's forgiveness for human right abuses committed in the past, even as it is facing the investigations and trials.

"The military generals should ask for an apology from the people and should promise not to commit any wrongdoings in the future," said Agus, a vocal critic of TNI's leadership and past practices, who was invited to give his view on the future of the military. Also invited to the House was military observer Salim Said.

Agus said that even if the court failed to prove human rights abuses due to lack of evidence, the military should nevertheless make that apology and pledge.

This would help put matters behind us, and would allow the nation to look to the future, he said.

"Through this hearing, I myself ask for an apology (for all TNI's past wrongdoings)," he said.

Agus led 16 other active officers in launching a book entitled Indonesia Baru dan Tantangan TNI (The New Indonesia and TNI's Challenge) which questioned the political role of TNI.

On Monday, he reiterated his stance in the book.

"TNI should go back to basics, that is defending the nation. It should keep far away from politics," he said.

Military observer Salim, however, told the hearing that the military officers should be absolved of all misdeeds because they were simply doing their jobs.

"The officers could not avoid (committing abuses), since they were trapped and used by the former governments," Salim said.

He said Indonesia could not get rid of the military because its services were still vital. "But it seems that everyone wants to slaughter the officers," he said. (jun)