KONI deputy chairman withdraws resignation

KONI deputy chairman withdraws resignation

JAKARTA (JP): Deputy chairman of the National Sports Council
(KONI) Arie Sudewo withdrew his resignation yesterday following
an order from his chief to stay with the council.

Arie told reporters yesterday that chairman of the council
Wismoyo Arismunandar had rejected his resignation and asked him
to carry on his duties.

"There is nothing I can do but to be loyal to his order,"
Arie, a retired Army lieutenant general, said, "For me, an order
is an order."

Arie said that as a former military official, deserting an
order amounts to insubordination.

Arie, as well as former Army Chief of Staff Wismoyo, formally
retired from military service early in December last year.

The 56-year-old deputy chairman announced his resignation in
the final day of the 18th Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai,
Thailand. Arie, chef de mission of the Indonesian team, said that
his team's failure to retain Indonesia's supremacy at the Games
was behind his shocking decision.

Indonesia, fielding a smaller number of athletes than
Thailand and not represented in two sports, suffered its second
defeat to the Thais since 1985. The host swept 157 golds, more
than twice as many than Indonesia's 77 golds.

"I begged the chairman, after a five-day evaluation recently,
to fulfill my request because my decision was not taken
emotionally," Arie said. "It was just the way I show my moral
responsibility."

He said he was surprised by Wismoyo's reaction. "Mr. Chairman
told me that I was a soldier and a member of the Armed Forces.

"Having been in the Army together for such a long time, we are
like two bodies with one soul. If I resign he will lose his
soul," Arie said of his private discussion with Wismoyo.

Arie asked Wismoyo for some days off to be introspective after
the meeting.

Report

Arie said he had handed in the report of Indonesia's SEA Games
performance to both Wismoyo and State Minister of Youth Affairs
and Sports Hayono Isman. The two sports top officials will report
to the President.

Arie, brushing aside his bitter memory at the just concluded
SEA Games, reminded that Indonesia has only 18 months to get
ready for the 1997 Games here.

"We have two big tasks: to prepare our athletes and
accommodation for the visiting teams," he said.

He said the council will continue its approach to national
businessmen in order to hold a successful sporting extravaganza.

Meanwhile, the council's official in charge of planning and
budget, Togi Hutagaol, confirmed yesterday that the council is
completing details of bonuses in the form of insurance given to
SEA Games medalists. Wismoyo is expected to announce the rewards
next week.

A gold medalist will receive Rp 25 million (US$10,900), while
a silver and a bronze medal winners will earn Rp 2 million and Rp
1 million respectively. (05)