Gus Dur won't issue decree: Army chief

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)