KONI chief says Arie resignation would not help

KONI chief says Arie resignation would not help

JAKARTA (JP): National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar yesterday indicated that he would not accept the resignation of Indonesian contingent chief Arie Sudewo, following Indonesia's loss of its overall title at the 18th Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Arie, who announced his intention to resign last week as Indonesia's failure to retain the title became a foregone conclusion, is also Wismoyo's second-in-command.

"It won't solve the problem," an unusually-taciturn Wismoyo told The Jakarta Post at KONI headquarters.

Wismoyo had just arrived from the airport, after welcoming home the first group of returning Indonesian sportsmen and women. Wismoyo greeted them in a simple ceremony after their Garuda aircraft touched down at 4 p.m.

Wismoyo said at the airport that he saw no point in Arie's resignation, since he did not think it would improve the country's sports performance. "Together we must sail through both calm and stormy weather," he added.

The 18th SEA Games in Chiang Mai were the worst Games ever for Indonesia. Host Thailand scooped 157 gold medals, while Indonesia came in a distant second, with 77 gold medals. It was Indonesia's second defeat to Thailand after its 1985 loss in Bangkok.

Arie told the Post yesterday that it was not the right time to make any comment on whether or not he was serious about resigning.

"Please don't ask me that question now," said the Army lieutenant general who described himself on Sunday as a man who "loves sports but has no experience in managing sports".

Arie indicated that he might speak more about it at a formal ceremony to mark the dissolving of the Indonesian SEA Games contingent at KONI headquarters today.

Earlier, at the airport, Arie told reporters that he would feel guilty if he did not resign. Pressed on whether he might reconsider the move, he said he needed time to think.

Arie offered his resignation from the position of KONI deputy chairman in a statement on Sunday, just hours before the Games' closing ceremony. In the statement he said his resignation was a consequence of Indonesia's inability to retain the overall title. Arie said he made the decision without consulting with Wismoyo or even with his wife.

Arie was responsible for the selection of the national teams KONI sent to the just-concluded SEA Games.

KONI spokesman Ishadi told the Post that whether or not Arie would eventually abort his term was very much dependent on Wismoyo's decision. "But as far as I know, he has not submitted a resignation letter to Wismoyo yet," Ishadi said.

At the airport, Wismoyo placed a garland round the neck of female rower champ Salma Haryono of Southeast Sulawesi while Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman adorned Arie Sudewo with another garland.

The second group was due to depart for Jakarta from Chiang Mai at midnight.

Ishadi said that a cash bonus of Rp 25 million promised for each Indonesian athlete who won a gold medal in Chiang Mai would be submitted symbolically in today's contingent dissolving ceremony. However, he was unable to explain whether an athlete who won more than one gold medal would get the bonus multiplied by the number of his or her gold medals.

"I hope this can be explained tomorrow," he added flatly.

"Welcome, our sports ambassadors. We remain proud of you," read a big banner on the facade of KONI headquarters as the athletes, clad in indigo blue jackets with straw hats, arrived at KONI headquarters accompanied by some Harley-Davidson riders. Some were welcomed by their families. There were smiles and laughter. But many seemed pensive.

"This is sports. It's impossible to always win in competition," badminton queen Susi Susanti commented.

"Here we are, the loser. We didn't think Thailand would outdo us by that much. They kept secret any information about their athletes, whom they trained abroad. We, by contrast, were an open book. Everyone could see how we trained," Sarengat said. He added that Thailand won because it was better and because it used any means, including dishonest practices, to get gold medals.

KONI's foreign affairs officer Rio Tambunan said he saw for himself how the boxing referees fabricated scores in favor of Thai boxers.

"Especially the referees from South Korea and Bangladesh," he added. (arf)