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)