President need not fear TNI coup or Wiranto: Agus

President need not fear TNI coup or Wiranto: Agus

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Wirabuana Military Commander
Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusuma insisted that President Abdurrahman
Wahid should not fear deteriorating relations with Gen. Wiranto
as the latter no longer held paramount influence within the
Indonesian Military (TNI).

When asked by journalists to comment on rumors of an impending
Cabinet reshuffle and that the former TNI chief could lose his
post as coordinating minister for political affairs and security,
Agus said that such a move was the prerogative of the President
who should consider what he believes to be best without fearing
any repercussions from the TNI.

Agus charged that Wiranto's current post was superfluous to
the military structure.

Without hesitation he even discounted Wiranto's influence
within the military.

"The most influential person in the TNI now is no longer
Wiranto but the TNI commander (Adm. Widodo AS)," he asserted here
on Wednesday.

Agus, who has built a reputation as an outspoken, progressive
thinker, has said that Abdurrahman should not be reluctant in his
decision out of fear of further cooling his relations with
Wiranto.

He asserted that while Wiranto may be a former TNI chief, the
President should distinguish between the two, stressing that the
current coordinating ministerial post is not part of the TNI
structure.

"The relationship between the President and TNI is very good,"
he stressed.

Rumors have been rife that a Cabinet reshuffle may occur this
week with Wiranto among those likely to be axed.

Observers have pointed out that since Wiranto still has not
retired from the military, as required by law when assuming a
Cabinet post, such a reshuffle may pit the top government
executive against the TNI.

Agus, however, merely called on the President not to be
afraid.

He brushed off fears of a possible coup d'etat by the
military.

"What kind of coup? That kind of thing is no longer
fashionable. And besides, can we (TNI) really fight against the
people?

"We can't even take care of Ambon. How can we launch a coup?"
he remarked.

Agus has been in the media spotlight in recent months for
controversial statements which have often gone contrary to the
regular TNI line.

On Wednesday he also welcomed the emergence of people like
Widodo, who is from a Navy background, as TNI chief.

He said the break in the Army's domination in the top military
echelons would only bring progress.

Bad

Meanwhile in Jakarta, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker
Amien Rais said that while some changes to the Cabinet may be
needed, the overall composition and performance of the Cabinet
was not bad.

"Only one or two ministers have shown a bad performance,"
Amien, who is also the chairman of the National Mandate Party,
said on Wednesday evening.

Nevertheless he was not sure if a reshuffle would result in
better ministers being introduced in the Cabinet, while
expressing fear that the government was focusing too much on
handling reshuffle issues while neglecting the state issues at
hand.

Minister of Human Rights Affairs Hasballah M. Saad lamented
the widespread talk of a Cabinet reshuffle, saying it could
adversely affect the performance of the government.

"How can ministers work smoothly if they're worried about
being replaced?" Hasballah remarked on Wednesday.

He added that it was also unfair to judge the performance of
ministers as they had only been in office for about two
months.(27/jun)