Army will remain loyal to the government: Endriartono<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
\nsaid on Friday that the Army would remain loyal to the government
\nand not let anybody topple the national leadership by
\nunconstitutional means.<\/p>\n
\"The nation's interests are paramount. We should never think
\nof short-term interests, but rather be in for the long-term.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, the national leadership succession should be based
\non long-term interests,\" Endriartono told reporters after
\nperforming Friday prayers at Army headquarters.<\/p>\n
Rumors have been rife over the past week that Endriartono,
\nbacked by the Army's top brass, would take over the presidency by
\nforce.<\/p>\n
He dismissed the rumors, saying that he could never
\ncountenance any unconstitutional change in the national
\nleadership.<\/p>\n
The Army chief said that the nations's leaders had been given
\nspecific terms of office and could not be replaced just on a
\nwhim.<\/p>\n
\"We have a Constitution. So, let's uphold it.<\/p>\n
\"If the appointment or the replacement of the national
\nleadership is attempted through unconstitutional means, the Army
\nwill not tolerate it,\" Endriartono said, while warning all
\nelements of the nation to eschew such unconstitutional means of
\nchanging the national leadership.<\/p>\n
\"We are not going to change our national leader every year
\nbased on trivial grounds.<\/p>\n
\"If these trivial issues lead to an unconstitutional change in
\nthe state leadership, the Army will not sit on the sidelines...
\nwe are going to face them,\" Endriartono said.<\/p>\n
The four-star general suggested that if a change of leadership
\nwere desired, then the Indonesian people should bring this about
\nin the constitutional way.<\/p>\n
He also said that the Army would not tolerate any policies
\nwhich would only worsen the plight of the nation.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI)\/National Police faction has
\nsupported the findings of the House of Representatives (DPR)
\nspecial committee investigation into President Abdurrahman
\nWahid's alleged involvement in two financial scandals.<\/p>\n
The House then issued a memorandum of censure against the
\nPresident, and presented the committee's findings to the National
\nPolice and the Attorney General's Office.<\/p>\n
In response to a question asking whether the memorandum could
\nlead to the toppling of the President, Endriartono said: \"As long
\nas it is the will of the people and is constitutional, I will
\nclose my eyes and ears...,\" he said, while adding that it would
\nhave nothing to do with the Army if the President was toppled or
\ncontinued in office until 2004. (02)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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