DATE=2/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA-COUP (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259042
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The tussle between Indonesian President
Abdrurrahman Wahid and the country's former top
general continues. However, as VOA correspondent Gary
Thomas reports from Jakarta, fears that the struggle
between the two men will lead to a military coup
appear to have abated.
TEXT: President Abdurrahman Wahid continues to press
General Wiranto to resign from the cabinet.
President Wahid, who is in South Korea at the moment,
is quoted by a South Korean newspaper as saying he
will suspend General Wiranto if he does not step down
before the president returns to Jakarta.
General Wiranto, the former armed forces chief and now
security minister, is named in a government
investigation into human rights abuses in East Timor.
He was cited for allegedly failing to halt the
violence that erupted after last year's vote for
independence there. But he has steadfastly resisted
stepping aside from the cabinet, paving the way for a
potentially explosive showdown.
But initial fears that the impasse would spark a coup
appear to have faded. Top officers have gone out of
their way to assure the civilian government of the
military's loyalty.
In an exclusive interview at military headquarters,
Lieutenant General Agus Widjojo said the armed forces
are committed to the democratic process.
// WIDJOJO ACT //
The Indonesian armed forces positions itself as part
of the national decision to embark on a national
democratization process. And we believe that a coup
d'etat would create a great setback to this process.
// END ACT //
General Widjojo - one of the country's most senior
officers - adds that a coup would set off a dangerous
chain reaction.
// WIDJOJO ACT //
Once you start a coup d'etat you will ignite counter
coup d'etats. So there is never an added value in
launching a coup d'etat.
// END ACT //
Most analysts believe that with the loss of his post
as armed forces chief, General Wiranto no longer
commands widespread loyalty in the military.
But what remains puzzling is why President Wahid has
pushed for a showdown with General Wiranto. Military
affairs analyst Salim Said believes it is because
General Wiranto is the only high-profile military
figure from the autocratic rule of former President
Suharto still in the government.
// SAID ACT //
Wiranto is probably now becoming the scapegoat of
Suharto. I mean, all of the mistakes, all of the
wrongdoings of the Suharto regime now are being blamed
on Wiranto as the only person in the military from
whom you can trace back (to) Suharto. Because he was
groomed and appointed by Suharto as commander of the
armed forces.
// END ACT //
President Wahid returns to Jakarta Sunday from his two
week tour of Europe and Asia. (signed)
Neb/gpt/gc/plm
11-Feb-2000 05:33 AM EDT (11-Feb-2000 1033 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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