Wiranto

Just a week after his authority was challenged and rumors spread that he would be sacked, Gen. Wiranto, the chief of the armed forces, has emerged as the most powerful man in Indonesia. "Wiranto is the key playmaker and unmaker," a Western diplomat said. Others agree, believing that he was largely responsible for engineering the deal that led to President Suharto's resignation Thursday after 32 years in power.

The party of former dictator Suharto nominated a former general Wednesday as its presidential candidate in Indonesia's July elections, despite his indictments by U.N. prosecutors in connection with human rights abuses in East Timor. The Golkar party's decision to pick Wiranto, who uses only one name, dealt a blow to the political hopes of parliament Speaker Akbar Tanjung, whose second-place finish probably will end his career.

The party of former dictator Suharto nominated a former general Wednesday as its presidential candidate in Indonesia's July elections, despite his indictments by U.N. prosecutors in connection with human rights abuses in East Timor. The Golkar party's decision to pick Wiranto, who uses only one name, dealt a blow to the political hopes of parliament Speaker Akbar Tanjung, whose second-place finish probably will end his career.

After denying responsibility for the devastation of East Timor, Indonesia's security minister said Wednesday that he will not address demands for his resignation until he explains his stance to President Abdurrahman Wahid upon Wahid's return Sunday from a European and Asian tour. Gen. Wiranto, who uses one name, told the Cabinet that people should "wait for a fair legal process" before he chooses to "resign or not resign."

After denying responsibility for the devastation of East Timor, Indonesia's security minister said Wednesday that he will not address demands for his resignation until he explains his stance to President Abdurrahman Wahid upon Wahid's return Sunday from a European and Asian tour. Gen. Wiranto, who uses one name, told the Cabinet that people should "wait for a fair legal process" before he chooses to "resign or not resign."

Indonesia's armed forces chief, Gen. Wiranto, conceded for the first time Saturday that he might not have full control of his soldiers in East Timor, and he hinted that he might soon accept the help of international peacekeeping troops to restore order here.

The Indonesian military has agreed to retire generals who hold Cabinet posts, including controversial Gen. Wiranto, a senior military official said. The agreement comes amid criticism of the armed forces and efforts to reduce its influence. A senior military source earlier said President Abdurrahman Wahid had signed a decree retiring Wiranto from the military, a move that could cut off his power base.

A U.N.-backed tribunal issued an arrest warrant against Indonesia's former military chief and current presidential candidate Gen. Wiranto on charges of human rights abuses during East Timor's bloody break with Jakarta in 1999, during which about 1,500 people were killed. Wiranto's campaign team said it was unconcerned by the warrant. Indonesian authorities have said they will not cooperate with the court in Dili. Wiranto headed Indonesia's army in 1999 when East Timor voted for independence.

Indonesian Security Minister Gen. Wiranto, accused of allowing pro-Indonesian militias to devastate East Timor, will resign next week, President Abdurrahman Wahid said today. Wahid, who is in Bangkok, Thailand, for a U.N. trade meeting, said that he would meet with Wiranto after he returns to Indonesia tonight and that he expects the general to resign within two days. Wahid first called for Wiranto's resignation Jan.

In a surprise reversal, President Abdurrahman Wahid on Sunday suspended his powerful security minister, Gen. Wiranto, from the Cabinet over his alleged role in last year's bloodshed in East Timor. Upon his return home after a 16-day foreign tour, Wahid met with Wiranto and said the minister would remain in the government while the attorney general's office conducts an inquiry into the violence that followed East Timor's vote for independence Aug. 30.

Indonesia's armed forces chief, Gen. Wiranto, conceded for the first time Saturday that he might not have full control of his soldiers in East Timor, and he hinted that he might soon accept the help of international peacekeeping troops to restore order here.

Just a week after his authority was challenged and rumors spread that he would be sacked, Gen. Wiranto, the chief of the armed forces, has emerged as the most powerful man in Indonesia. "Wiranto is the key playmaker and unmaker," a Western diplomat said. Others agree, believing that he was largely responsible for engineering the deal that led to President Suharto's resignation Thursday after 32 years in power.

Indonesia's parliament endorsed the military's policy of shooting rioters on sight, amid fresh bloodshed at both ends of the vast archipelago. At least 20 people died over the weekend in renewed Christian-Muslim violence in the eastern region once known as the Spice Islands and two more in the restive western province of Aceh, officials said. The parliament endorsed armed forces commander Gen. Wiranto's orders to his troops to shoot rioters or troublemakers on sight. Wiranto's deputy, Maj. Gen.

Indonesia's attorney general's office said it has summoned former president B.J. Habibie for questioning over a $5.3-million scandal involving state food agency Bulog. The summons follows investigations into parliament Speaker Akbar Tanjung and former military chief Wiranto, who both said Habibie instructed Bulog funds be used for humanitarian programs when he was leading crisis-racked Indonesia in 1999. Tanjung and Wiranto denied any wrongdoing. "Mr.