Senior generals support Army chief

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)