Police, MPs rap Wahid

Bimantoro is mobbed by reporters after a meeting with legislators in Jakarta Sunday

By CNN's John Raedler in Jakarta

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- Facing impeachment, Indonesia's embattled president has suffered another setback after the nation's police force, backed by parliamentary leaders, rebuffed him.

In response, a spokesman for president Wahid threatened unspecified "firm action" if the police did not obey the President.

The move followed Wahid's action Saturday when he stripped national police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro of his duties.

But Bimantoro has refused to budge, saying that for his removal to be legal it would have to be approved by the parliament.

On Sunday more than 100 top police officers issued a statement backing Bimantoro.

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"We do not want … to be politicized," the statement said. "The police are not a tool of power but the tool of the state."

Bimantoro later met with parliamentary leaders. Afterward, eight of the parliament's 10 factions announced that they stood firmly behind him.

"The national police chief must not be replaced for political interests or any other subjective interests without agreement from parliament," the parliamentary leaders said.

But a spokesman for Wahid responded that the President's decision to relieve Bimantoro of his duties should be obeyed. "If not, there will be firm action," the spokesman said without elaborating.

As for Bimantoro, after the overwhelming endorsement from his senior officers, he said: "I am still the police chief, there is no replacement."

Analysts said Mr. Wahid's apparent determination to get rid of Bimantoro smacked of the floundering leader's increasing isolation and desperation.

President Wahid's problems worsened significantly last week when the parliament voted overwhelmingly to bring impeachment proceedings against him in the nation's highest body, the People's Consultative Assembly. He is accused of corruption and incompetence.

Military 'could be next'

The impeachment proceedings are to start on August 1.

A widespread fear in Indonesia is that the President might declare a state of civil emergency, which would allow him to dissolve the parliament and stave off efforts to impeach him.

Local reports say Wahid has tried to sack Bimantoro because the police chief refused to support the imposition of a state of emergency.

It appears that with Bimantoro having the overwhelming support of his subordinates that if Wahid did declare a state of emergency now, the police would not carry it out.

The man Wahid named to take over the police chief's duties is among the top police officers who signed the statement of support for Bimantoro.

Meanwhile, reflecting growing concern over Wahid's desperation, the parliamentary leaders also raised the possibility that he might try to replace leaders in Indonesia's powerful military.

"The parliament factions are extremely concerned about the possibility that the same thing will be done to the TNI (Indonesian Defence Forces)," the political leaders said.

In recent days the increasingly impotent President has found that he has little support in the parliament, even less in the police force and it is widely believed he has similarly scant support in the military.