The Jakarta Post, June 28, 2004
Top brass 'involved' in civilian militia'
Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta
Although the deployment of civilian security guards, known as Pamswakarsa, to
secure the Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in
November 1998 was the initiative of the Furqon Muslim group, military top brass were
actively involved in the program, a witness says.
Faisal Biki, the leader of the Furqon, said then Indonesian Military chief Gen. (ret)
Wiranto and Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) chief of staff Maj. Gen.
(ret) Kivlan Zen were among the military officers who supported the program.
"(Deployment of) Pamswakarsa was my initiative, but the two military leaders provided
transportation and accommodation for us," Faisal said at the Istiqlal Mosque here on
Saturday.
Faisal was responding to a polemic between Wiranto and Kivlan over the
Pamswakarsa issue. Both retired generals have filed a libel suit against the other over
the matter.
Faisal said military soldiers also prevented clashes in some areas in Jakarta between
Pamswakarsa members, who supported the MPR session, and students, who
opposed the event.
Violence, it would seem, was unavoidable, with at least 10 people killed from both
sides.
The MPR session endorsed the appointment of BJ Habibie as president, replacing
Soeharto, who had stepped down in disgrace six months earlier.
In his book, launched recently, Kivlan said he had been promised a regional military
command by Wiranto for recruiting Pamswakarsa, but was instead moved to a desk
job.
To make things worse, Kivlan said he was left owing around Rp 5.4 billion (US$5.8
million) as Wiranto allegedly asked him to fund the operation from his own pocket,
promising to reimburse him afterward.
While denying Kivlan's account, Wiranto said his former aide's move was politically
motivated as it coincided with Wiranto's bid for the presidency.
On another occasion, Wiranto said he felt sorry for Kivlan as, according to him,
Kivlan's business endeavors had largely failed.
Faisal, the younger brother of Arif Biki, who was killed during the 1984 Tanjung Priok
incident, said the Pamswakarsa issue had been blown out of proportion.
"I deeply regret the dispute between Wiranto and Kivlan because both supported the
deployment," he said.
The dispute would not have erupted if Wiranto and Kivlan had just sat down to discuss
the matter, Faisal said.
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