Top brass 'involved' in civilian militia'

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta

Although the deployment of civilian security guards, known as Pamswakarsa, to secure the Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in November 1998 was the initiative of the Furqon Muslim group, military top brass were actively involved in the program, a witness says.

Faisal Biki, the leader of the Furqon, said then Indonesian Military chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto and Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) chief of staff Maj. Gen. (ret) Kivlan Zen were among the military officers who supported the program.

"(Deployment of) Pamswakarsa was my initiative, but the two military leaders provided transportation and accommodation for us," Faisal said at the Istiqlal Mosque here on Saturday.

Faisal was responding to a polemic between Wiranto and Kivlan over the Pamswakarsa issue. Both retired generals have filed a libel suit against the other over the matter.

Faisal said military soldiers also prevented clashes in some areas in Jakarta between Pamswakarsa members, who supported the MPR session, and students, who opposed the event.

Violence, it would seem, was unavoidable, with at least 10 people killed from both sides.

The MPR session endorsed the appointment of BJ Habibie as president, replacing Soeharto, who had stepped down in disgrace six months earlier.

In his book, launched recently, Kivlan said he had been promised a regional military command by Wiranto for recruiting Pamswakarsa, but was instead moved to a desk job.

To make things worse, Kivlan said he was left owing around Rp 5.4 billion (US$5.8 million) as Wiranto allegedly asked him to fund the operation from his own pocket, promising to reimburse him afterward.

While denying Kivlan's account, Wiranto said his former aide's move was politically motivated as it coincided with Wiranto's bid for the presidency.

On another occasion, Wiranto said he felt sorry for Kivlan as, according to him, Kivlan's business endeavors had largely failed.

Faisal, the younger brother of Arif Biki, who was killed during the 1984 Tanjung Priok incident, said the Pamswakarsa issue had been blown out of proportion.

"I deeply regret the dispute between Wiranto and Kivlan because both supported the deployment," he said.

The dispute would not have erupted if Wiranto and Kivlan had just sat down to discuss the matter, Faisal said.