Police's anniversary

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid has agreed to lead a ceremony marking the 55th anniversary of the National Police on Sunday, National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro said after meeting the President on Saturday.

Bimantoro, accompanied by National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail, met with Abdurrahman at the presidential palace on Saturday to ask whether the President was willing to lead the anniversary ceremony, scheduled to take place at Bhayangkara field in South Jakarta on Sunday morning, Antara reported.

The President agreed, Bimantoro said. Just in case there is a sudden emergency, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri will lead the event, he added.

Bimantoro will be the field commander for Sunday's anniversary.

Both Abdurrahman and Megawati are slated to attend the modest ceremony, where their presence is expected to melt ongoing tension following Abdurrahman's decision to change Bimantoro's status to "non-active" in late May.

On May 29, Abdurrahman appointed Chaeruddin as deputy national police chief, a position which no longer existed according to the National Police's new structure.

Chaeruddin was told to manage "daily police duties", but Abdurrahman's move drew public criticism and strong opposition from the majority of senior police officials.

Earlier on Saturday, Bimantoro led a tribute ceremony for national heroes at Kalibata Hero Cemetery in South Jakarta. Chaeruddin arrived toward the end of the ceremony and both men showered the graves of former police figures with flowers.

"We're both getting along just fine ... it is the media who makes it sound as if we are rivals," Chaeruddin said, describing his relationship with Bimantoro.

"The most important thing is to maintain unity within the National Police corps," Bimantoro added.