Three Armed Forces chiefs to be removed

JAKARTA (JP): In the latest example of psy-war tactics leading up to the crucial People's Consultative Assembly special session, President Abdurrahman Wahid's allies disclosed on Thursday a new plan by the embattled leader to replace the three armed forces chiefs of staff before the event commences on Aug. 1.

"In the near future before the special session, the President will replace the Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs of staff," deputy secretary-general of Abdurrahman's National Awakening Party (PKB) Chotibul Umam Wiranu said, adding that the move was part of the President's efforts to improve his administration's performance.

The plan came just 24 hours after the President, who is on an overseas trip, reiterated his desire to declare a state of emergency if his political enemies keep demanding that he account for his turbulent 20-month rule at the special session.

Chotibul flatly denied that the planned reshuffle in the Indonesian Military (TNI) was closely related to the President's intention of declaring a state of emergency, which would enable him to dissolve the House of Representatives, whose members also serve as the members of the Assembly.

When asked who would take over from the current chiefs of staff, Chotibul said: "I cannot tell you that."

Another PKB legislator, Ali Masykur Moesa, confirmed his colleague's disclosure of the President's plan to replace the three senior military officers, saying that there had been demands from both the people and the TNI itself for the change of leadership.

"The intention is there and the demand to replace the chiefs of staff has even come from various people inside the TNI. However, some said that any military reshuffle should be conducted after the special session in August," Ali told The Jakarta Post.

Abdurrahman has several time stated his intention of declaring a state of emergency, but was opposed by the military leaders, notably Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto.

"The military reshuffle has nothing to do with talks about a state of emergency, which is something that may not happen," said Ali, one of the President's close aides.

The reports of Abdurrahman's impending plan to dismiss the top military officers were dismissed in part by Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D.

Mahfud said the President might replace all the military chiefs of staff after the special session, and that such replacements would be unconnected to any possible declaration of a state of civilian emergency.

The President in his capacity as the Armed Forces supreme commander has the right to replace the military chiefs of staff, Mahfud said, but the move had to follow the official mechanisms governing military organization.

Mahfud denied that the President would appoint new military chiefs of staff who supported his plan to declare a state of civilian emergency.

"It's untrue. All sides have to understand that the President's statement on the decree was a mere aside," he said before a meeting with the House special committee to deliberate the bill on state defense here on Thursday.

Army chief Gen. Endriartono and Air Force chief Marshal Hanafie Asnan, who accompanied Mahfud at the meeting, also denied that they would be replaced in the near future.

Hanafie said the PKB had no authority to make any statements in the name of the President because the presidential institution and the party were separate.

"The PKB has no authority to speak in the name of the President," he warned.

Hanafie claimed that he had no knowledge of an impending major reshuffle in the Armed Forces hierarchy.

"I've not heard about it ... such a reshuffle would have to be carried out in accordance with the prevailing mechanisms in the military. I'm not in a position to comment on it," he said.

Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Indroko Sastrowiryono also declined to comment on the possibility of a state of emergency being declared, saying that he would only follow the orders of the TNI Chief in this regard.

"I would prefer not to comment than to make an erroneous statement again ... The TNI chief has explained the matter, so we'll stick with that. The Navy will go along with the stance of the TNI," Indroko said in Surabaya as quoted by Antara.

Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri expressed her disagreement with Abdurrahman's reported intention of declaring a state of emergency ahead of the special session.

Retired army general Saiful Sulun, the chairman of the Communications Forum of Ex-Indonesian Military and National Police Members, said that during his meeting with Megawati the Vice President said that any declaration of a state of emergency would be unconstitutional.

"Ibu Mega said that it (state of emergency) was not an appropriate action in the current situation and would only create further uncertainty in the country," Saiful said at a press briefing after the meeting. (dja/rms)