Thu, 02 Mar 2000

Wiranto gives testimony before House committee

JAKARTA (JP): Former chief of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Gen. Wiranto starred in a House of Representatives hearing on Wednesday, convincing legislators of his innocence in last year's East Timor violence.

Dressed in a dark suit, a cool and neat looking Wiranto fulfilled the House's invitation without the presence of a troupe of his defense lawyers.

He was well prepared for the session, as he showed a film picturing his role in bringing peace between rival factions in East Timor before a self-determination poll that resulted in the territory's independence.

"I hope the House can believe the truth. I'm just telling the truth," Wiranto told House Commission I for defense, foreign and political affairs.

Wiranto, who was suspended as the coordinating minister for political affairs and security in connection with the post-ballot mayhem in East Timor, denied allegations he had done nothing to avoid the violence.

The government-sanctioned Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations (KPP HAM) in East Timor listed Wiranto among the TNI military top brass allegedly responsible for the East Timor debacle. The commission said in its report that Wiranto, the TNI chief when the violence erupted, was morally responsible for the human rights violations.

Wiranto fought back on Wednesday, labeling the commission as unfair.

He also denied the moral responsibility over the human rights violations until the formal investigation declared him a suspect.

"There has been no legal decision on the issue. The term of political and moral responsibility remains unclear," he said.

Wiranto said he suspected the role of foreign countries, particularly Australia, in intensifying an anti-Indonesia campaign prior to the ballot.

"We recorded 14 illegal (Australian) flights above East Timor during April and July last year. Our officers saw them and there was satellite detection of the flights," he said.

Wiranto said Australian intelligence officers had been seen with proindependence Fretelin troops, who were supported with new weapons and clothes before the ballot.

The hearing was originally aimed at quizzing Wiranto over his role in the East Timor atrocities, but several times the focus changed.

When it came to his stand-off with President Abdurrahman Wahid, who, while on a 16-day overseas trip, asked him to resign over East Timor, Wiranto told the House commission that he was not a defiant officer in his refusal to meet the President's call, saying he was just awaiting the President return.

Abdurrahman finally suspended Wiranto on Feb. 13 and installed home affairs minister Surjadi Soedirdja as the acting coordinating minister.

Wiranto did not lose his popularity despite his removal, thanks to talk shows on a radio station and two television stations.

In its latest edition, the Tempo weekly magazine reported that Wiranto "bought" the air time for Rp 100 million per slot in order to set up the shows at his request. Wiranto dismissed the report.

"I have no money to buy the programs. The stations were helping me to explain the truth," Wiranto said.

On rumors of a military coup, Wiranto said former TNI chief of territorial affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had suggested he assume power during the chaos in May 1998, which forced then president Soeharto to step down.

"Pak Bambang Yudhoyono suggested I take over power, but I refused to," he said.

Bambang is now the minister of mines and energy.

Wiranto was also asked about his relations with former chief of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus), Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto, who is Soeharto's son-in-law.

Wiranto said he rejected Prabowo's proposal that Kopassus buy a helicopter and 72 tanks from Jordan. (jun)