Rusdihardjo disobeyed me, says President

Rusdihardjo disobeyed me, says President

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid on Friday said he
fired National Police Chief Gen. Rusdihardjo because the general
failed to obey an order to arrest Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra.

Speaking in a public dialog after Friday prayers at
Baiturrahim Mosque, located near Merdeka Palace, the President
insisted that there should have been no difficulty in arresting
the youngest son of former president Soeharto.

"I had ordered (the police) to question (Tommy), even to
arrest him, but it was not obeyed. It was not obeyed. So I fired
the police chief. There is no doubt about it," said the
President.

The President's remarks came in response to a question from a
resident from Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, who attended the
prayers.

The Tanah abang resident, named Rachmat, had appealed to
Abdurrahman to curb his statements if he did not have proof and
to stop "cornering" the Indonesian Military (TNI).

Speaking in a similar forum last week Abdurrahman announced
that he had ordered the arrest of Tommy and Habib Ali Baagil.

At the time, Abdurrahman suggested that the two men might be
linked to the bombing at the Jakarta Stock Exchange building.

Tommy was questioned the next day and released.

Three days later the President dismissed Rusdihardjo following
the police chief's statement describing the President's order
only as an expression of a strong wish.

The President seemed to backtrack on Friday from his earlier
statement implying a link between Tommy and the bombings.

"It (the arrest) is not for the explosion case, but to prevent
more bloodshed," Abdurrahman said without elaborating.

Abdurrahman asserted that he was resolute in his decision to
fire Rusdihardjo and even challenged him to file a suit if the
police general was dissatisfied with his dismissal.

In a clear reference to the dismissal of TNI deputy chief Gen.
Fachrul Razi on Wednesday, the President said he had to start
making major decisions because he had been too patient with the
military.

"Am I not patient enough? For months they have stepped on our
heads. Now it is time to take legal action," the President
remarked.

Abdurrahman expressed confidence that the House of
Representatives would approve the replacement of Rusdihardjo with
Comr. Gen. Bimantoro.

He added that he would swear in Bimantoro as soon as he
received approval from the House on Monday.

"DPR will discuss the issue and its decision will be to
endorse Pak Bimantoro as new National Police chief," the
President said confidently.

There was a light moment during the dialog, when a young man,
who identified himself as Achmad Sanusi, raised his hand and said
he spoke on behalf of the country's first president, Sukarno.

Abdurrahman laughed, when Achmad said: "I want to convey to
you a resolution from our founding father, Sukarno".

However, Abdurrahman's confident remark on Bimantoro's
endorsement by the House received mixed reactions from
legislators.

At least two factions -- the Reform faction and the United
Development Party (PPP) -- suggested on Friday that Abdurrahman
propose more than one candidate.

"The House, at least the Reform faction, would not approve the
appointment of Bimantoro," Reform faction chairman Hatta Radjasa
remarked.

PPP's chairman Ali Marwan Hanan agreed with Hatta's view
saying the House would first examine candidates' curriculum vitae
and their past records.

"The President can not make such a fait a comply by deciding
that the House would approve it by Monday," Ali, who is also the
party's secretary-general, said. (jun/byg/prb)