'Beware of risks to MPR assembly'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) chief, Gen. Feisal
\nTanjung, told the Army yesterday to prepare for the general
\nassembly of the People's Consultative Council (MPR) next March.<\/p>\n
\"Beware of a campaign to disrupt next year's general assembly
\nof the People's Consultative Council,\" Feisal said during a
\nceremony to transfer the Army chief of staff post from Gen. R.
\nHartono to the newly promoted Gen. Wiranto at the Army
\nheadquarters.<\/p>\n
Feisal said the Armed Forces had identified parties who had
\nattempted to foil the election campaign and the May 29 general
\nelection.<\/p>\n
\"There is a great possibility that they will repeat their
\nunconstitutional actions before the MPR's general assembly next
\nyear,\" he said.<\/p>\n
This year's election campaign was marred by clashes between
\nsupporters of the three parties -- the United Development Party
\n(PPP), Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). And
\nbetween party supporters, the general public and security
\npersonnel.<\/p>\n
The 1,000-strong council will meet next March to elect a
\npresident and vice president and adopt the five-year State
\nGuidelines.<\/p>\n
Feisal told Wiranto to make necessary preparations and guide
\nhis soldiers so that they were more able to safeguard the
\ncountry's most significant political event.<\/p>\n
\"Prepare your soldiers so that they will not make procedural
\nmistakes on the job,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Feisal told soldiers and other Armed Forces personnel to be
\nprofessional.<\/p>\n
\"Professional ABRI personnel are expected to act as agents for
\ndemocratization and campaign to improve people's welfare,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's ceremony was part of a series of substantial
\nchanges in the cabinet and the Armed Forces.<\/p>\n
Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono announced last Friday that
\nWiranto would replace Hartono, who became the minister of
\ninformation replacing Harmoko. Harmoko was given a new cabinet
\npost as state minister of special assignments.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces reshuffle also saw the appointment of Lt.
\nGen. Subagyo Hadi Siswoyo as the new deputy Army chief of staff;
\nLt. Gen. Sugiono as the new chief of the Army Strategic Reserve
\nCommand, replacing Wiranto; Maj. Gen. Sutarto as the commander of
\nthe Presidential Security Guards; and Maj. Gen. Mardjianto as the
\nnew chief of the Central Java Regional Military Command.<\/p>\n
The ceremony was attended by several four-star retired
\ngenerals, including Abdul Haris Nasution, M. Panggabean, Poniman,
\nMakmun Murod, Edi Sudradjat and Wismoyo Arismunandar. They are
\nall former Army chief of staff.<\/p>\n
Several three-star retired generals attended the ceremony,
\nincluding Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo, Wahono and F.X. Sudjasmin.
\nThey are all former deputies of the army chief of staff.<\/p>\n
Cabinet ministers, Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs
\nand Security Soesilo Soedarman, Coordinating Minister for
\nPeople's Welfare Azwar Anas and Minister of Home Affairs Moch.
\nYogie S.M., also attended.<\/p>\n
On Wiranto's appointment, the country's first army chief of
\nstaff, Gen. (ret) Abdul Haris Nasution, said he was glad the
\nmilitary reshuffle had been conducted systematically and orderly.<\/p>\n
\"There have been significant improvements in the Armed Forces'
\npersonnel development, unlike what I experienced. I was only 30
\nyears of age when I was installed as the army chief of staff,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said several Armed Forces' younger officers had
\nsignificantly developed their careers, citing Maj. Gen. Prabowo
\nSubianto, commandant-general of the Army's Special Force, as a
\nfuture military leader in the making.<\/p>\n
\"I have known him for a long time. He told me long ago that he
\nwished to become the Army chief of staff someday,\" Nasution said.
\n(imn)<\/p>",
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