Police, TNI may not back me: Gus Dur

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid conceded on Sunday that while he was resolute in his warning to declare a state of emergency, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police may not support his move.

"Forcing the issuance of a state of emergency needs the backing of the state apparatus and it is still a question for me whether the TNI and police will implement such a decree," Abdurrahman said.

Speaking in front of students during a dialog to evaluate the reform movement, organized by the University of Indonesia Alumni Association (Iluni-UI), Abdurrahman underlined that in such a situation other alternatives may be more effective.

"I can issue a state of emergency, I have the power to do it but would it be a wise decision? It may be better if we just suspended the House of Representatives so we don't have to dissolve them," Abdurrahman remarked.

His comments came after students who attended the event demanded during the dialog on Sunday that the President dissolve the House and the Golkar Party, the former ruling party of the New Order regime.

"I keep saying and everyone should remember that I will issue such a decree if, and only if, we cannot reach any compromise," the President pointed out.

"If we can achieve a political compromise then we will start all over again from that compromise," he asserted.

Abdurrahman has repeatedly warned he will declare a state of emergency in response to the People's Consultative Assembly's plan to hold a special session on Aug. 1 to seek his accountability.

If his accountability is rejected Abdurrahman could be ousted from the presidency and replaced by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Abdurrahman's repeated threats of imposing a state of emergency or dissolving the legislature have lingered for several months and top aides have also repeatedly stated their rejection of the idea.

In his latest threat Abdurrahman said a state of civil emergency would be imposed at 6 p.m. on July 20 if no political compromise was reached.

In such a situation the role of the police as one of the primary executors of the emergency status would be pivotal.

The National Police leadership itself is currently in disarray.

Abdurrahman dismissed National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro and appointed Insp. Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail as his deputy police chief to carry out the day-to-day functions of the police chief.

Bimantoro however has not handed over his command.

The President recently ordered the arrest of Bimantoro, but the order was rejected by his top political security minister Agum Gumelar.

Abdurrahman insisted on Sunday that "like it or not Bimantoro has violated regulations by rejecting the order (to hand over his command."

"I cannot arrest him just like that because of the possibility of causing a split in the police force, so I asked that stern legal action be taken against him," he said.

Separately, Minister of Defense Mahfud MD said on Sunday that after the Assembly special session the TNI and police should adhere to their role as faithful executors of executive instructions.

"After the special session, the House and the people should force the TNI and police to return to their role as a state apparatus that follows the orders of the executive," Mahfud said during a press conference at his official residence.

Mahfud, who is due to take over the post of Attorney General, expressed his support for stern legal action to be taken against Bimantoro.

Meanwhile, from Surabaya Nadhatul Ulama (NU) youth-wing Ansor Chairman Saifullah Yusuf said that his organization may support the imposing of a state of emergency if political compromise could not be achieved ahead of the Assembly special session.

Abdurrahman led NU for 15 years before he was elected president in 1999.

"I don't think the President will issue such a decree at present, because it would be an unwise decision. However, should the compromise fail it (decree) has to be implemented. We may support it," Saifullah said.

However he remarked optimistically that there was still time and the possibility for compromise was open. (dja/nur)