- Title: INDONESIA: WAHID SHUFFLES CABINET IN LAST-DITCH ATTEMPT TO FIGHT OFF IMPEACHMENT.
- Date: 2nd June 2001
- Summary: JAKARTA, INDONESIA (JUNE 2, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV/PAN: INDONESIAN PRESIDENT ABDURRAHMAN WAHID WALKING INTO CEREMONY HALL 0.10 2. SIDE/SIDE CU: VARIOUS NEW SECURITY MINISTER AGUM GUMELAR (2 SHOTS) 0.21 3. GV: LONG OF WAHID 0.26 4. MV: ARMED FORCES CHIEF ADMIRAL WIDODO AND POLICE CHIEF BIMANTORO SALUTING 0.30 5. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) WAHID SAYING: "In efforts to maintain security and political stability, I congratulate you all. I say thank you to Bambang Yudhoyono (former security minister) and welcome Agum Gumelar." 0.52 6. SIDE VIEW/PAN: VARIOUS GUMELAR TAKING OATH/ WAHID CONGRATULATES GUMELAR (4 SHOTS) 1.26 7. SV/SCU: VARIOUS MINISTERS SHAKING HANDS WITH GUMELAR (4 SHOTS) 1.45 8. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) AGUM GUMELAR SAYING: "Deep in my heart I have the spirit that I don't want to make the leader make the wrong policy, or the wrong decision. That is a good start to convince him not to do this, not to do that." 2.03 9. LV/GV: VARIOUS STREET SCENES (2 SHOTS) 2.12 10. SV/MV/CU: VARIOUS NEWSPAPER HEADLINES/ PEOPLE READING PAPERS (4 SHOTS) 2.33 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 17th June 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
- Country: Indonesia
- Reuters ID: LVAAE0UZVSH2LDLMU70P0M3OBB3P
- Story Text: Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has sworn in a
new chief security minister following a sudden cabinet
reshuffle that analysts regard as his last-ditch digging in of
the heels to ward off impeachment.
The only minister sworn in on Saturday (June 2) was
Agum Gumelar, who has the most powerful chief security
portfolio. Officials had said all six new ministers part of
Friday's (June 1) reshuffle would be sworn in and it was
unclear why the rest were not included.
Highlighting Wahid's growing friction with his estranged
deputy, Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri snubbed a
ceremony that she would normally be required to attend.
Wahid implied Gumelar would do a better job than his
widely respected predecessor Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose
sacking has been condemned by politicians and local media.
"In efforts to maintain security and political stability I
congratulate you all. I say thank you to Bambang Yudhoyono
(former security minister) and welcome Agum Gumelar." Wahid
said at the ceremony.
Yudhoyono, also an ex-general, had stood up to Wahid over
his plan to declare a state of emergency to fend off
impeachment.
Gumelar said after being sworn in that he would follow
Yudhoyono's policies and stressed that he would try to help
Wahid make the right decisions especially concerning the
decree concerning at state of emergency.
"Deep in my heart, I have the spirit that I don't want to
make the leader make the wrong policy or the wrong
decision.That is a good start to convince him not to do this ,
not to do that." Gumelar said.
Yudhoyono had won praise for his calm as Indonesia's
political crisis rose to fever pitch, threatening to plunge
the world's fourth most populous country into chaos.
Wahid loyalists rampaged in East Java this week, torching
churches. They also tried to storm parliament on Wednesday
(May 30)
Wahid said he had appointed Gumelar to patch up ties with
Megawati, but analysts questioned how much influence the
ex-general, who is believed to be close to her party, would
have.
Aides say Megawati has grown increasingly irritated with
Wahid's erratic 19-month rule and would reject an offer the
cleric made last week to share more power as an attempt to
escape the political noose tightening around his neck.
Megawati is widely expected to take over the presidency
should the supreme People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
remove Wahid when it meets on August 1.
Wahid has little left to cling to apart from the state of
emergency and the threat of violence by his loyalists.
After declaring a state of emergency, Wahid could dissolve
parliament and call a snap election, although many legislators
have said they would accelerate the impeachment process
instead.
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