Prabowo defends May 22 actions

Prabowo defends May 22 actions

JAKARTA (JP): Prabowo Subianto, the Army lieutenant general
President B.J. Habibie accused this week of deploying troops
around his residence the day after he assumed the presidency in
May, said on Friday he took the action as part of his duty to
protect the new head of state.

In a statement read by close friends, Prabowo, who is
currently in Jordan, said the troop concentration "was in line
with the instruction from the Armed Forces (ABRI) top brass".

"All troop mobilizations were continuously reported to the
upper command," identifying the latter as the Jakarta military
commander.

Prabowo was removed from his post as chief of the Army's
Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) on May 22, only one day
after Habibie assumed the presidency from strongman Soeharto.

His abrupt removal was never satisfactorily explained, but on
Monday Habibie disclosed the "concentration of troops" around his
house by Prabowo. He said he asked ABRI chief Gen. Wiranto to
remove the troops as soon as he learned of the situation.

Prabowo, a son-in-law of Soeharto, was reassigned to a less
significant position in Bandung on the evening of May 22 and
discharged from the Army in August following the investigation
into his role in the abduction of political activists.

Habibie's disclosure, before a forum of Asian and German
journalists on Monday, upset Prabowo's family and friends, some
of whom accused the President of slander.

Several politicians have also demanded an official
investigation, saying Habibie virtually accused Prabowo of
treason.

Wiranto on Friday played down the significance of the troop
concentration, stressing that many ABRI units from outside had
been redeployed in the capital before the May 14 riots to keep
stability and order in the city.

All troops deployed were under the control of the Jakarta
military commander and the Jakarta Police chief, Wiranto told
reporters in Bandung.

ABRI chief spokesman Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif separately said
that besides Kostrad troops, there were other units brought into
Jakarta at the time on Wiranto's orders, Antara reported.

Syamsul corrected Habibie's military terminology, saying it
was a "consolidation" rather than a "concentration".

Prabowo's account of his actions in May was presented at a
media briefing held at Regent Hotel in Central Jakarta by Farid
Prawiranegara and Fadli Zon of the Crescent and Star Party. Also
present were Achmad Sumargono of the Indonesian Committee for
World Muslim Solidarity and Jannus Hutapea, corporate secretary
of Tirta Mas, the widely diversified business group controlled by
Prabowo's younger brother Hashim Djoyohadikusumo.

In his letter dated Feb. 19, Prabowo said he deployed his
Kostrad troops in May to support the military operation to
protect strategic sites in the capital, including to ensure the
safety of Soeharto and Habibie.

Fadli urged Habibie to meet with Prabowo to clarify the
matter.

"History should not be written by the winning general (only),"
he said, quoting a Russian phrase.

Jannus suggested that Habibie invite Prabowo for a meeting.
The latter is conducting business for Tirta Mas in Amman.

Habibie's disclosure and its implications have distressed the
entire Prabowo family, including his father, economic guru
Soemitro Djoyohadikusumo, Jannus said.

Soemitro is in Australia for a medical checkup and will return
next week. Hashim, who has been in Europe since Feb. 6 in his
capacity as Habibie's roving ambassador to Europe, will return
home on Wednesday. (01/43)