Police move in to foil chief's arrest

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, JULY 12. Indonesia's troubles multiplied today with the police refusing to obey an order from the President, Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid, to arrest their chief, Gen. Suroyo Bimantoro.

Elite police personnel massed outside the residence of Gen. Bimantoro, who was ``sacked'' some time ago by the President but has refused to step down citing rules that only Parliament was competent to remove him.

Reports from Jakarta said two armoured cars and at least 80 police personnel were stationed outside the police chief's residence. Gen. Bimantoro himself was said to be in Singapore for routine medical treatment.

That the order from the President would not be implemented became clear when Mr. Wahid's handpicked police deputy chief, Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail, said: ``How come an order (for arrest) is given on TV?''

Earlier in the day, a spokesman for the President said the Coordinating Minister for Security Affairs, Gen. Agum Gumelar, and Gen. Ismail had been ordered to take legal action against those officers involved in insubordination - this included the Jakarta police chief, Inspector-General Sofjan Jacob.

The order for arresting the police officials comes as the August 1 deadline for the convening of the special People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) session to impeach the President nears.

It would appear that the President has acted in the face of what he sees as defiance from top police officials who have refused to obey his orders.

In fact, Gen. Bimantoro was appointed Indonesia's ambassador to neighbouring Malaysia in a bid to ease him out of the job, but the police chief rebuffed the President's offer.

Session may be advanced

Following the order from the President, senior political figures in the country have stated that the MPR session could well be advanced in the wake of this new development.

``I think the MPR must weigh this very important information,'' the House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker, Mr. Akbar Tandjung, was quoted as saying in Jakarta.

Mr. Akbar claimed that the MPR's working committee had given the green light to convene a plenary session to determine whether there was a need to bring forward the special meeting of the MPR. It is evident that the President's political support has been eroded and all the principal factions are opposed to any drastic measures proposed by Mr. Wahid.

The President has repeatedly warned that he will impose a state of emergency if the MPR wants to hold him accountable. Mr. Wahid still maintains that he will dissolve Parliament and call for fresh elections.

The defiant attitude of the police force is evident from their decision to hold a show of strength outside the police chief's house.

In the wake of this development, it is not known what the President will do. He may well order the military to step in, but top Generals have repeatedly stated that they will not implement illegal orders from the President.

So far, despite the political crisis in the country, matters had been proceeding in a constitutional manner - other than the drama surrounding the ``sacking'' of the police chief. Now, however, this drama could well take a different turn. It would appear that if the police are refusing to act according to Mr. Wahid's wishes, the military may well do the same.

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Section  : International
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