Lindsay Murdoch, Jakarta – The United States has entered the political debate in Indonesia, saying that the military must obey the civilian government, just days after army chiefs resisted moves by President Abdurrahman Wahid to impose martial law, dissolve parliament and call fresh elections.
The US ambassador in Jakarta, Mr Robert Gelbard, said after making high-level representations in Jakarta yesterday that Washington felt "very strongly that in any country the military should and must be controlled and responsive to their civilian leaders, including their commander in-chief".
Mr Gelbard said it was "essential that the military follows its constitutionally mandated role and be responsive to the civilian leadership" . He said the US was "very, very supportive of the whole process of building democratic institutions in Indonesia".
Indonesia's Foreign Minister, Mr Alwi Shihab, said after meeting Mr Gelbard that he agreed with the US position. Mr Shihab said his Government also expected countries like Australia to support the democratic process in Indonesia, especially during the current political crisis. He said he was in constant contact with Australia's Foreign Minister, Mr Downer.
Mr Gelbard's intervention followed the army's rejection at the weekend of calls by Mr Wahid to dissolve parliament, declare a state of emergency and hold fresh elections. The military command also rejected any move by Mr Wahid to replace senior officers.
The army now appears to have sided with Vice-President Megawati Sukarnopitri in the power struggle. In what was seen as a clear message to Mr Wahid, members of the army's elite strategic reserve (Kostrad) held a ceremonial parade in central Jakarta on Sunday, close to the presidential palace. In a speech, the commander of Kostrad, General Ryamizard Ryacudu, appeared to side with those seeking Mr Wahid's impeachment.
The events have added to tensions before a meeting of parliament next Wednesday that is expected to call for a special session of the country's supreme legislature, which has the power to impeach Mr Wahid. Fears are growing that the leadership crisis will provoke outbreaks of violence similar to the mass rioting and looting that swept Indonesian cities in 1998.
The International Crisis Group, headed by the former Australian foreign minister, Mr Gareth Evans, said in a new report that the crisis could lead to an outbreak of clashes between rival demonstrators.
Even more worrying were the opportunities this would provide for the urban underclass to repeat the violence that erupted just before the fall of the dictator Soeharto in May 1998, when hundreds of people were killed, the report said.
"The view that democracy has only brought disorder and chaos is growing stronger while the number looking back in favour on the enforced order of the Soeharto era seems to be growing," the Brussels-based group said.
Six factions of parliament representing the biggest political parties declared on Monday they would push for a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the top legislature, in which Mr Wahid would face impeachment over his erratic leadership style.
The speaker of the MPR, Dr Amien Rais, said Mr Wahid would be asked by 700 MPs to deliver an accountability speech. "If the speech is accepted, he [Wahid] will prevail," Dr Rais said. "But if it is rejected, he will be finished." The International Crisis Group, which maintains a Jakarta office, said public discussion about the leadership crisis seemed to be overshadowed by fear that the nation is on the path to disintegration.