Indonesia's political crisis deepened Sunday as police rejected President Abdurrahman Wahid's de facto dismissal of their commander, General Suroyo Bimantoro .
Wahid, who is fighting possible impeachment, relieved Bimantoro of his duties Saturday and handed them over to newly-appointed deputy police chief, Inspector General Chaeruddin Ismail.
But Jakarta Police Chief, Inspector General Sofyan Jacoeb, on Sunday said he and more than 100 other police generals remained loyal to Bimantoro, who has refused to resign.
"I only recognize one national police chief, that is Mr. Bimantoro," Jacoeb said after accompanying Bimantoro in a meeting with legislators.
He said that 102 police generals shared the same opinion and had stated their backing on paper.
The pledge of allegiance to Bimantoro came despite Wahid's warning that officers refusing to accept his decision could face charges of insubordination.
Bimantoro also gave support to the generals.
"If the president wants to dismiss (me), it is his prerogative, but it should be done according to the procedures, therefore I do not refuse to be replaced but I refuse to hand over a resignation letter," Bimantoro said after the meetings with MPs.
"There is no disunity within the national police."
Wahid relieved Bimantoro of his duties after he refused to resign as demanded.
By law, the president can only replace a national police chief with the approval of the lower house, the People's Representative Council (DPR.)
At the police headquarters earlier on Sunday, Jacoeb read out a statement signed by the 102 police generals that rejected moves to politicise the police.
"Polri (the national police) is a just protector of the people and Polri places itself as a tool of the state and not of power," Jacoeb said, reading out a six-point statement to journalists at police headquarters.
He said that the police demanded to be an independent and professional institution free of any political ties.
"Based on an evaluation of the situation and conditions and on the results of deep analysis, the national police chief and his top ranks are taking a firm stand to reject political intervention on the Polri institution," he said.
The increasingly isolated president acted against Bimantoro on Friday after the national assembly, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), fixed August 1 for an impeachment hearing against him. He sacked his security minister and attorney general on the same day – JAKARTA (AFP)
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