The Coup
Attempt
119
erals and had greeted Brigadier General Supardjo in a friendly way at Halim on 1 October when Supardjo uported to him on behalf of the Thirtieth of September Movement. Early in 1967 the parliament adopted a resolution and memorandum detailing the circumstantial evidence implicating SuJr.arno and calling for his trial. but Suhano. bearing in mind the strong suppon that Sukamo continued to enjoy not only among the people of Java but also in some sections of the armed forces. claimed that the evidence was not sufficient to charge Sukarno and thereby avoided the exacerbation of tensions that would have accompanied atrial.41 In the absence of clear-cut evidence. there has been much speculation about whether the president was aware of the plans of the Thirtieth of September Movement and to what extent he sympathized with them. According to a document purporting to be a record of the intelTogation of Sukarno's former adjutant. Colonel (navy) 8ambang Widjanarko. in late 1970, SuJr.arno had decided to dismiss Yani and appoint his first deputy, Major General Mursjid. as the new army commander. Sukamo had ordered that Yani be summoned to the palace on I October, presumably to be informed of his dismissal. 41 Sultarno had also discussed the "turmoil" in the army with Omar Dhani on 29 September and, according to Omar Dhani. had been told of the existence of a group of discontented officers including Supardjo. According to 8ambang Widjanarko, Supardjo himself was present at this discussion.U It thus seems clear that the president was aware that some kind of move against the army leadership was in the offing. and it is reasonable to assume that he hoped to exploit the conflict at Yani's expen~ . It has been argued, however. that Sukarno's role was much more than that of a third party hoping to exploit the discQntent of younger officers with the army leadership. Based on the interrogation of Bambang Widjanarko, Dake has put the case that Su42. .xe DPR-GR RclOlulion iUld Mcmor;mdum of 9 Mardi 1967 iIlId Suha"o·. Written Report of 1 February 1967 in Supolo Ptilwo.ohildikullimo. ed. 1967. 45. Kilmi 1974: 15-16. The Kilmi volume contairu whilt purporu to be w ItiOrd of the interropion or Bambanl! Widjmuw. For a craja] IU:IC:IoIment or the teliilbility or 8:ambana Widjanarko·. tetlimony. ICe Utf'C'Cht I97S. 44. Submo·. Slatemnll at Oma.r DhilJli trial (UI, 596). Omar Dhani ill OuwDhani trW (II, 89-91), Kilmi 1974: IM.