Gus Dur says Megawati and military behind him

JAKARTA (JP): Under pressure over his alleged involvement in two financial scandals, President Abdurrahman Wahid claimed here on Wednesday that he still had the support of his deputy Megawati Soekarnoputri and the military.

Abdurrahman's comment was made after a breakfast meeting with Megawati and top security officials at the Vice President's official residence on Jl. Diponegoro in Central Jakarta, to discuss security issues.

Asked whether he had the full support of Megawati, Abdurrahman said: "Yes ... there is no problem".

When asked whether the Indonesian Military (TNI) was also behind him, Abdurrahman said: "It is also the same, there is no problem".

The President then played down fears of violence between his supporters and anti-government protesters saying that the situation in the country was normal.

The President's statement came on the eve of a plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR) which will decide on Thursday whether to accept or reject the House special committee's findings on its investigation into the scandals of the Rp 35 billion (US$3.9 million) fund of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) and of the $2 million donation from the Sultan of Brunei.

The committee had said earlier in its report that Abdurrahman was involved in the two scandals.

When asked to comment on the committee's conclusions, Abdurrahman said: "I am not allowed to comment on that matter".

Abdurrahman went on national television on Tuesday to deny his involvement in the two financial scandals.

Abdurrahman claimed last week in Jambi that Megawati fully supports him and is in favor of seeing his presidency through until it ends in 2004.

Megawati, however, has so far never expressed whether she really is behind the President.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab, who was present at Megawati's residence, echoed Abdurrahman's sentiment saying that the military remained loyal to Abdurrahman.

"The Abdurrahman administration is a legitimate government, so of course they (the military) are loyal (to the government)," Alwi said, adding that the military's loyalty to the President "need not be questioned".

Alwi's statement came as Defense Minister Mahfud M.D. had warned earlier that continuing political bickering among civilians would prompt the military to take over the country.

Also present on Wednesday were Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D., TNI Chief Adm. Widodo A.S., Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Indroko Sastrowiryono, Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Hanafie Asnan and National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro.

Mahfud, however, said that TNI would support the state institutions, but not individuals.

"TNI will not support one state institution only, but all institutions, either the presidency, the legislative or even the People's Consultative Assembly," Mahfud separately told reporters at his office.

When asked whether TNI might shift its support due to a transfer of power in the government, Mahfud said TNI would change its stance only when the process was held in a constitutional way.

Mahfud said the commitment of the TNI and the police was voiced during the breakfast meeting to secure the capital in any situation of unrest.

"The meeting did not discuss any political deals, particularly between the President and the military," he said.

Separately, Assembly speaker Amien Rais said the conclusion made by the House special committee would influence the fate of Abdurrahman's administration.

"If it's true, there will certainly be constitutional measures taken, either in the form of a memorandum or holding a Special Session of the Assembly asking for the President's accountability.

"Support will continue only if the President follows the State Policy Guidelines (GBHN) and the reform agenda," he said, but did not elaborate. (byg/02)