Jakarta, June 1
Indonesia’s powerful Chief Security Minister, who had urged President Abdurrahman Wahid publicly not to declare a state of emergency to stave off impeachment, said today he had been sacked.
“This morning...Mr President took a decision to sack me and replace me with (Transport Minister and retired general) Agum
Gumelar. I am loyal to the President and will accept this decision,” Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told a news conference.
The sacking deepens Indonesia’s political crisis.
President Abdurrahman
Wahid, desperately trying to cling to power, has reshuffled his Cabinet, presidential spokesman Yahya Staquf said today.
Attorney General Marzuki Darusman was also sacked and replaced by Justice Minister Bachrudin
Lopa.
Embattled President will make police chief General Bimantoro “non-active”, the Defence Minister said
today.
Mahfud, a key Wahid ally, said he would resign if the Muslim cleric declared a state of emergency to ward off impeachment.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s military today reiterated that it was opposed to any plan by President Wahid to declare a state of
emergency. Reuters
