Indonesian military rejects Wahid's new security chief

JAKARTA - Indonesia's military has rejected President Abdurrahman Wahid's decision to fire the country's national police chief, the Jakarta Post reports.

Police chief Suroyo Bimantoro has refused to leave his job, saying the President's move is illegal. The President fired him on Friday over the handling of violent, pro-Wahid demonstrations in East Java last week, where one man was shot to death by police.

The Army "fully supported" Bimantoro's decision to ignore the President's wishes, the newspaper said, quoting sources who were inside a closed-door military meeting on Saturday.

Wahid on Saturday installed a new deputy police chief, General Chaeruddin Ismail, who will act as Bimantoro's temporary replacement.

During the swearing-in ceremony, Wahid warned officers not to disobey him and said those who do not accept Bimantoro's removal would be prosecuted for insubordination.

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