Relations between Gus Dur and police deteriorate

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)