Senior generals support Army chief

JAKARTA (JP): Senior generals gave their political support to the Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto on Saturday for his call to President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's not to disband the House of Representatives.

In an effort to win support, Endriartono had invited 255 retired Indonesian Military (TNI) generals to lunch at the Army Headquarters. Almost half of them - 124 senior generals - appeared at the gathering.

Endriartono called the meeting to discuss the latest developments in the country, including the planned issuance of the Presidential edict to dissolve the House.

"Our decision not to support the President in issuing the edict is mainly for the sake of the people. As we are aware, the people constitute this nation, and the government can only accept the people's mandate," Endriartono told media at the sidelines of the meeting.

"If they are in dispute, TNI will be on the people's side. If Gus Dur wants to replace me due to my stance, I'll take it as a consequence," he said.

Asked whether TNI would support the President, should the latter impose a state of emergency, Endriartono said: "I don't know whether Gus Dur will impose a state of emergency. But if he insists, TNI will not support it since we do not want people to suffer from its consequences."

Endriartono also dismissed the possibility that TNI would assume power if the situation turned ugly.

"No, ... we are not going to benefit from the current chaotic situation by taking power," Endriartono said.

Among those attending the lunch meeting were former vice president Gen. (ret.) Try Sutrisno, former TNI chief Gen. (ret.) Wiranto, former Army chief of staff Gen. (ret.) Hartono, former Armed Forces (ABRI) chief of social and political affairs Lt. Gen. (ret.) Hasnan Habib, Jakarta governor Lt. Gen. (ret.) Sutiyoso, Chief of the Supreme Advisory Council Lt. Gen. (ret.) Ahmad Tirtosudiro, and former Golkar secretary-general Maj. Gen. (ret) Ari Mardjono.

Try Sutrisno, who is also chairman of the veterans' organization (Pepabri), voiced support for TNI, which had openly suggested to the President that dissolving the House would only worsen the situation.

"TNI firmly upholds the Constitution and is ready to defend it," Try said.

Even though Gus Dur has denied that he plans to dissolve the House, rumors have been rife that he would replace high-ranking military officers over their rejection of the plan.

Endriartono denied that Saturday's meeting also discussed the possible replacement of TNI top brass.

"My replacement is just a rumor. Nobody has ever confirmed it to me," Endriartono said.

It is also been reported that Gus Dur might assign former chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) Lt. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah to replace Endriartono.

Agus, known as the general who has strong links with Gus Dur, however, said that he would not take the position unless the Army headquarters approved it through Wanjakti (the high-ranking officers board).

"I will refuse the job unless the Army assigns me through Wanjakti," Agus told The Jakarta Post in a recent interview by telephone.

Meanwhile, the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) chief Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu said that rumors about his replacement had been spread by "whisperers".

Separately, Gus Dur again denied that he would replace Endriartono, saying that the replacement issue was only a lie.

"No, ... there is no plan to replace him. It's just a lie, and you believe that lie," Gus Dur stated at a snap media briefing after chairing the National Awakening party (PKB) weekly meeting here.

Gus Dur also denied that he had met Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri to discuss the reshuffle.

The distance between Gus Dur and the military has widened since the Indonesian Military/National Police faction in the House supported the House's decision to issue the first memorandum of censure against Gus Dur on Feb. 1. The faction abstained in the issuance of the second memorandum on April 30, but it suggested that the corruption cases in which Gus Dur was allegedly involved be handled by the People's Consultative Assembly. (02)