Relations between Gus Dur and police deteriorate

JAKARTA (JP): The relationship between President Abdurrahman Wahid and the police has hit a new low following the President's dismissal of National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro on Friday.

The tension escalated on Saturday after the President officially declared that Bimantoro "has tendered his resignation" and that "any information that Bimantoro has not been deactivated must be taken as fictional".

The President made the statement while installing Comr. Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail as new National Police deputy chief during a ceremony at Merdeka Palace on Saturday. Chaeruddin replaces Comr. Gen. Pandji Atmasudirdja.

Minutes earlier the President installed Agum Gumelar as the new coordinating minister for political, social and security affairs to replace Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was dismissed by the President on Friday.

Bimantoro attended the induction of Agum, but he skipped the ceremony installing Chaeruddin in his new post.

Bimantoro announced on Friday that he would not comply with the President's demand that he tender his resignation.

The general said that the House of Representatives (DPR) must approve the dismissal of the chief of the National Police. However, Bimantoro was appointed to the post last year to replace Rusdihardjo in a move that never received the House's approval.

Bimantoro said on the sidelines of Agum's induction ceremony that his main concern was not his replacement. "The problem for me is that I refuse to send in my resignation letter."

Chaeruddin's appointment was made through Presidential Decree No. 40 and 41/POLRI/2001, which states that he has the full authority and responsibility as National Police chief and that Bimantoro has been "officially" dismissed.

The House has taken the stance that the dismissal of Bimantoro will worsen the conflict between the President and the legislature.

"The DPR regret and is deeply concerned over the latest political developments, especially the Cabinet reshuffle and the suspension of the National Police chief. All this will worsen the tension between the President and the House. This will negatively impact the planned MPR (People's Consultative Assembly) special session," House Deputy Speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno said at a media conference here on Saturday.

Soetardjo warned the President against dismissing Bimantoro and using the National Police to maintain the status quo, saying any leadership reshuffles in the Indonesian Military and the National Police must be approved by the House.

"The President's action to suspend Bimantoro could prove counterproductive in that the military, the police and the majority of the people will rebuff him (the President)," he said.

Ultimatum

Abdurrahman, apparently upset by Bimantoro's refusal to resign, said when inducing Chaeruddin that all his dismissal of Bimantoro was an official order.

"The deactivation of Bimantoro and the installment of Chaeruddin is a (Presidential) order that must be adhered to. All layers of the Indonesian National Police must respect and abide by the order, and those who oppose it will be considered guilty of insubordination and face legal measures," the President said.

Abdurrahman reiterated that the police were in charge of security. "The police must not be involved in politics. Staying away from politics would enable the police to help the people develop their daily lives."

Abdurrahman earlier rebuked the police for their handling of violent demonstrations in Pasuruan, East Java, where one person died of gunshot wounds and several others were hospitalized.

Both Bimantoro and National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Didi Widayadi said they acted according to standard police procedures in dealing with the disturbances in Pasuruan.

East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Sutanto also defended Bimantoro, saying in Surabaya on Saturday that his men had to fire into the angry mob, who had begun attacking police officers and vandalizing and looting property.

"We used rubber bullets to disperse the mob during a series of violent demonstrations in Pasuruan," he said.

Thousands of people, claiming to be Abdurrahman supporters, took to the streets in Pasuruan after the President issued a controversial executive order on Monday instructing his top security minister to restore security and order in the country.

One man, identified as Fathan, was shot dead during a clash between the mob and the police. Eyewitnesses said that Fathan had just left a sidewalk stall selling drinks when he was shot in the chest.

Bimantoro's refusal to submit his letter of resignation reportedly has been hailed by all provincial police chiefs, who gathered in Jakarta on Saturday for internal discussions. (nur/rms/sur)