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)