Politicians, experts split over Wiranto

Politicians, experts split over Wiranto

JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and
Security Gen. Wiranto, now under the spotlight over the East
Timor debacle, attended a routine Cabinet meeting on Wednesday,
shrugging off mounting calls for his immediate resignation.

Politicians and observers, meanwhile, were split over whether
Wiranto should condone President Abdurrahman Wahid's demand that
he leave the Cabinet.

In apparent effort to play down the potential power struggle
pitting Abdurrahman, who represents civilians, against the
Indonesian Military (TNI), spokesman for the armed forces Rear
Marshal Graito Usodo dismissed rumors of an impending military
coup.

"It's impossible. We're not happy with the issue (rumors)
because it's not true, and I strongly believe it will not happen
in Indonesia, especially by TNI," Graito told a media conference.

"TNI fully supports all decisions made by the President or the
government. Whatever they are, TNI will accept them," he added.

Wiranto was present in the Cabinet meeting on security, which
was presided over by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri on
behalf of Abdurrahman who is on a two-week trip to Europe.

The ministers attending the meeting reportedly refrained from
talking about the sensitive topic. A minister quoted Wiranto as
telling Reuters on condition of anonymity 'please differentiate
me from the minister and the person who is being investigated'.

Abdurrahman has twice called on Wiranto to resign immediately
from the Cabinet because of the implications of his involvement
in the East Timor violence.

Wiranto, who was the TNI chief when East Timor was on fire,
dismissed the demand, saying he was determined to defend himself
against charges of wrongdoing. Wiranto was among five military
top brass implicated in the campaign of terror and destruction
which erupted after the Aug. 30 ballot in the ravaged territory.

An aide close to Aburrahman predicted last month that a
Cabinet reshuffle would take place due to allegations of human
rights abuses and graft.

House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung reiterated his
support for Wiranto's resignation, but asserted that it should be
free from the use of force.

"He (Wiranto) should be nonactive, but don't force him to
resign. Unless there is evidence to implicate him in the human
rights abuses and, therefore, is subject to sentence," Akbar said
while attending the University of Indonesia's 50th anniversary in
Depok, West Java.

Later in the day, Akbar suggested that Abdurrahman give
Wiranto a chance to talk to him over the resignation.

In Tokyo, visiting People's Consultative Assembly Speaker
Amien Rais said Abdurrahman might have been hasty in ordering
Wiranto to quit. Amien also hinted he was ready to mediate
between Abdurrahman and Wiranto, after the former TNI chief
defied the President's order that he step down, Reuters reported.

Amien said that if Wiranto truly had been involved in
atrocities in East Timor, he would have no choice but to quit and
stand trial.

Calls, meanwhile, mounted for Wiranto to voluntarily resign
from the Cabinet in order to ease the formal inquiry on alleged
human rights violations leveled at him.

Military observers Johanes Kristiadi and Kastorius Sinaga both
stressed that Wiranto's resignation would prevent friction among
the political and military elite.

Kristiadi from the Center for Strategic and International
Studies (CSIS) also said that Wiranto's exit would maintain the
teamwork of the Cabinet.

"It's not healthy for the Cabinet if controversy on Wiranto
pits the ministers against each other. It should be Wiranto who
takes the initiative (to resign)," Kristiadi said.

Kristianto further added that Wiranto no longer held enough
power to bargain with Abdurrahman to remain in the Cabinet and it
was useless to argue with the President who had the prerogative
right to decide the fate of his Cabinet ministers.

"Wiranto has become defensive recently. He is too self-
confident and assumes he will receive support from the military,"
he speculated.

Meanwhile, Kastorius pointed out that the resignation would
enhance the inquiry process at the Attorney General's Office.

"Yes, it is wise if he voluntarily resigns. It will
psychologically burden the Office to probe an active minister,"
he said.

Besides preventing the possible controversy among the
political and military elite, Wiranto's resignation would also
contribute to calming public resentment toward the military as an
institution and to maintain his personal credibility, Kastorius
said.

Shortly after former president Soeharto, who was also a senior
military general, stepped down, TNI had been target of
denunciation for human rights violations and its involvement in
the political arena.

Chairman of the TNI faction at the House, Lt. Gen. Achmad
Roestandi contended the mounting pressures on Wiranto to leave
the Cabinet, describing them as irrelevant.

"There are no rulings that order a minister to step down while
in a legal dispute," Roestandi said.

Hartono Mardjono of the Crescent Star Party lashed out at the
report unveiled by the government-sanctioned inquiry into last
year's violence in East Timor, saying it was insignificant to
blame Wiranto for the mayhem.

"I have read the report and found it is too hasty to conclude
that Wiranto is guilty," Hartono said.

When contacted separately, Amin Aryoso of the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) refused to comment
on the order for Wiranto to step down. (01/jun/emf)