Gus Dur says Megawati and military behind him

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)