Megawati objects to suspension
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)