Megawati objects to suspension
JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri talked tough on Thursday, declaring her disagreement with the recent decision to suspend National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro.
"I object to the decision (to suspend Bimantoro) because it should have followed the correct procedures. There are certain efforts to divide the TNI (Indonesian Military), the police and even PDI Perjuangan," Megawati said, as quoted by a member of the Association of Young Indonesian Businessmen (HIPMI), Bambang Soesatyo.
PDI Perjuangan is the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, which Megawati chairs.
HIPMI executives met with Megawati at her office to express their concern about the prolonged political stalemate, which has adversely affected the economy.
Megawati, Bambang said, asserted that the decision on Bimantoro should have involved consultation with the House of Representatives, as stipulated in the 2000 People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) decree on the separation of the National Police from the TNI.
President Abdurrahman Wahid suspended Bimantoro last Saturday and handpicked new police deputy chief Insp. Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail to take over Bimantoro's day-to-day responsibilities. The President said Bimantoro had tendered his resignation, which the latter has denied.
Bimantoro's suspension followed a Cabinet reshuffle that included the dismissal of former coordinating minister for political, social and security affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
The move sparked speculation of a reshuffle in the TNI, which, like Bimantoro and Susilo, had rejected Abdurrahman's bid to issue a decree of a state of emergency as a last-ditch effort to avoid an impeachment process being sought by MPR.
A source close to the President told The Jakarta Post that Abdurrahman considered TNI Chief Adm. Widodo A.S, Bimantoro and Susilo as people who stand between him and the decree.
In an unrelated development, a police officer, Sr. Comr. Nikmat Djayadi, is being questioned by the police intelligence unit for allegedly stating that his fellow middle-ranking officers were pushing for Bimantoro's resignation.
"The officer has reportedly made statements against Gen. Bimantoro. Just so you know, Nikmat has been under strict police observation for sometime now, due to bad behavior," National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
"His statements, are in no way representatives of middle- ranking officers in the National Police."
A group of National Police officials deemed Bimantoro's suspension an effort to create divisions within the National Police.
Nearly 100 police generals nationwide have pledged their support for Bimantoro, whose promotion to the National Police's top post drew controversy due to the absence of the House's consent.
Bimantoro is due to retire by November this year.
Despite rumors that he has accepted an ambassadorship and has been offered lucrative positions in the government, Bimantoro has promised never to step down from his post. (dja/ylt)