Gus Dur won't issue decree: Army chief

BANDUNG (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto expressed confidence on Monday that President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid would not issue a decree imposing a state of emergency, as it would only damage further the already divisive situation in the country.

After installing here the new Siliwangi Military Commander Maj. Gen. Darsono to replace Maj. Gen. Djainuri Hasyim, Endriartono said that the President would be wise enough not to issue such a decree.

"I personally know Gus Dur well, he is a wise and shrewd person and therefore (he) will not impose such a decree, because that would worsen the already chaotic situation," he said.

Endriartono further asserted that the Army would support a constitutional move, including the process of replacement of the national leadership.

"The Army does not side with certain individuals," he said, adding that it would support the government if the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) ruled that Abdurrahman should continue as president until 2004.

"We will be supportive and loyal to the results of the Constitutional process and not to individuals," he asserted.

Asked about possible rioting during the special session, he said that the Army had yet to make special preparations for security. "Whenever the Military chief instructs the Army, we, the Army, will be ready," he said, playing down the possibility that a certain political party's supporters would riot while the session was taking place.

In a related development, West Java Police chief Brig. Gen. Sudirman Ali said 10,000 personnel would be ready to back up the Army whenever needed, during, before or after the session.

"There will be ordinary security arrangements in place, not in anticipation of possible rioting due to the resignation of the President," said Sudirman.

In Jakarta Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Agum Gumelar suggested on Monday that the President not issue a decree, should political compromise fail.

"The President has many times reiterated his will to issue a decree ... But, as his minister, I have to prevent it," Agum told reporters at his office.

"We still have an opportunity to reach compromise," Agum was quick to add.

Meanwhile, an observer based in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar said on Monday that the failure of the Bogor meeting could probably prompt Gus Dur to issue the decree.

Gus Dur called a meeting of political party leaders at Bogor presidential palace on Monday. The meeting failed, however, as only the National Awakening Party -- his own -- responded to the invitation.

"The only (remaining) way for Gus Dur to retain his seat is by issuing a decree," M. Darwis, a sociologist from Hasanuddin University told The Jakarta Post. "Many compromise efforts have failed, so the final 'weapon' would be the decree."

He believed that Gus Dur would issue the decree on the grounds that the party leaders had turned down a compromise offer by skipping the meeting.

Another comment was voiced by Ichlasul Amal from Yogyakarta, who said that the door to compromise was about to be closed now as political party leaders failed to appear at the meeting.

Amal, rector of Gadjah Mada University and one of Gus Dur's staunch critics, expressed his pessimism that Gus Dur could save his position in the special session.

"As I have said many times before, Gus Dur is being hit by his own political maneuvers that always spark controversy," he said, stressing that Gus Dur was a stubborn man. (25/27/44/tso/sur)