DATE=2/12/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA WAHID (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259093
BYLINE=RON CORBEN
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid is
ending a 16-day overseas trip and returning to Jakarta
late today (Saturday) to face an expected showdown
with security minister, General Wiranto. Ron Corben
reports from Bangkok.
TEXT: After more than two weeks abroad, Indonesian
President Abdurrahman Wahid, now faces a new political
test in Jakarta - a showdown with his security
minister, General Wiranto.
At a press conference after his address to the United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development - or
UNCTAD - Mr Wahid said he would re-shuffle his cabinet
if General Wiranto refuses to resign.
Mr. Wahid's latest comments came after General Wiranto
was linked by human rights reports to atrocities after
an independence vote in East Timor last August.
The Indonesian president is expected to meet with vice
president, Megawati Sukarnoputri, as soon as he
arrives in Jakarta.
Indonesian officials in Bangkok deny reports that Mr
Wahid had set a deadline of Monday for General Wiranto
to resign.
On Friday, senior Indonesian military officers came
out for the first in open support of Mr. Wahid.
According to reports from Indonesia, Army Chief
General Tyasno Sudarto expressed his hope General
Wiranto would follow the president's wish and resign.
General Wiranto has vehemently defended his role in
East Timor, presenting himself as a peacemaker who had
helped the former Portuguese territory's independence
vote to go ahead.
An Indonesian commission as well as a United Nations
human rights inquiry named General Wiranto as one of
those responsible for the atrocities and property
destruction that took place in East Timor after the
independence vote. (SIGNED)
NEB/RC/JP
12-Feb-2000 11:02 AM EDT (12-Feb-2000 1602 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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