JAKARTA: President Ahmed Soekarno of Indonesia today [Feb 22] transferred his executive powers to Army strongman General Suharto, but will remain in office as “constitutional Head of State”.

The transfer was announced by the Information Minister, Mr Burhanuddin Mohammed Diah, in a brief statement, read over the Jakarta Radio, saying the change was effective as of today.

In the statement, signed by the 65-year-old President and dated Feb 20 the Chief of State said he was taking this step after “realising that the present political conflict in Indonesia must be ended immediately for the sake of the security of the entire people”.

The statement said President Soekarno transferred “the powers of Government” to Gen Suharto in line with a resolution passed last year by the Consultative People’s Congress “without any reservation”.

It said Gen Suharto would report to the President on the implementation of the transfer of power “at any time considered necessary”.

An earlier story said that the President’s signature was witnessed by all Cabinet Ministers who assembled at the palace after a crisis meeting.

The President appealed to the people of Indonesia and the Armed Forces to preserve unity, maintain vigilance and to help Gen Suharto to carry out the task given to him.

The handing over of power, observers believe, is the first phase of President Soekarno’s complete removal from office.

On March 7 the supreme policy-making People’s Consultative Congress meets to discuss “his role as President and his possible future trial for mishandling State affairs”.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2017