At least 80 armed policemen and two armoured cars have moved in to protect their rebel chief after Indonesia’s President Mr Abdurrahman Wahid ordered his arrest.
Troops from the elite police mobile squad wielding automatic weapons gathered around General Bimantoro's official south Jakarta residence.
They vowed to protect him and saying they expected trouble from Mr Wahid's supporters after the increasingly isolated president ordered the general arrested for refusing to quit.
GeneralBimantoro has refused Mr Wahid's order to resign, saying this requires the approval of the parliament, which has publicly backed him against Mr Wahid.
Mr Wahid has frequently threatened to declare a state of emergency and call an early election to avoid impeachment over his chaotic rule at a special session of the country's top assembly next month.
He is not expected to survive in power.
Senior police and army generals, including General Bimantoro, have publicly warned they would not carry out any emergency order.