TNI doesn't pledge support, but will protect President: Army chief
TNI doesn't pledge support, but will protect President: Army chief
JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto on
Friday maintained the Indonesian Military's (TNI) stance in
responding to the ongoing political turmoil, saying that the
military will not pledge its support for the President, but will
only protect him.
"As part of the state apparatus, we are responsible for
securing the President, meaning that no one is allowed to 'touch'
him," Endriartono told reporters after a visit of President
Abdurrahman Wahid to the office of the Coordinating Minister for
Political, Social and Security Affairs, where the newly
established Crisis Controlling Agency is also situated.
Endriartono, however, called on the public to differentiate
between the military as a defense force and as a political arm of
the TNI/Police faction at the House of Representatives (DPR).
"As a state official, Gus Dur (Abdurrahman's nickname) has the
right to receive protection from TNI, while our faction at the
House has nothing to do with this security matter," he said.
"Our representatives at the House deal with political matters.
They must be able to decide whether to support the conclusion of
the House special committee investigation into the two financial
(Bulog and Brunei) scandals, or not," he added.
He was responding to questions that the TNI/Police faction had
accepted the results of the investigation which censured
President Abdurrahman for his alleged involvement in the
scandals.
The House agreed on Thursday to issue a memorandum, a move
that could lead to the impeachment of the President.
Endriartono denied when asked whether Gus Dur had asked TNI to
declare a state of emergency in the country.
"No, he (Abdurrahman) has never asked about it. But, we did
suggest to Gus Dur that introducing a state of emergency would
only lead to grave consequences for the state and therefore we
expected Gus Dur not to impose the status," he said.
Endriartono clarified the statement of Minister of Defense
Mahfud M.D. who warned civilians that the TNI might take over
power if the chaotic situation continued.
"The TNI does not have the willingness to take power even
given a chaotic situation. Such a move would not benefit the
nation," he said.
Mahfud's warning came amid continuing conflict between
Abdurrahman and the House of Representatives over an
investigation into two financial scandals allegedly linked to the
President.
Endriartono dismissed speculation in the past two days that he
would be replaced for allegedly disobeying the President's order.
"I've never heard anything about it. It's just a rumor," the
Army chief said.
Separately, Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government had
no intention to replace either the Army chief or the TNI chief.
"I've just heard about it from the newspapers. There's no such
plan to replace the incumbent TNI chief and the Army chief. There
have been too many rumors lately for my liking," Susilo said.
Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) chief Lt. Gen.
Ryamizard Ryacudu shared Endriartono's statement that TNI would
protect Gus Dur in his capacity as Head of State.
"Nobody is allowed to harm him. In much the same way as with
other state leaders, such the Vice President, and the national
flag," Ryamizard said after meeting Susilo at his office later in
the afternoon.
The three-star general said TNI did not have any plans for a
coup.
"Those saying that we (TNI) will carry out a coup against the
government are our enemy," Ryamizard said. (02/dja)