Elite army force told to secure 1997, 1998 elections<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono yesterday
\nordered the Army's elite unit, Special Force Command (Kopassus),
\nto help secure the general elections in 1997 and the presidential
\nelection the following year.<\/p>\n
The two elections should proceed smoothly, safely and
\nsuccessfully, Hartono said at a military ceremony to mark the
\n43rd anniversary of Kopassus, the most fearsome combat force of
\nthe Army, at its headquarters in Cijantung, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
With its immense experience, the \"Red Berets\" must take the
\nlead in securing the two major national events, he said, adding
\nthat Kopassus should also help ensure that people exercise their
\ndemocratic rights and obligations.<\/p>\n
Political analysts expect the 1997 and 1998 elections to be
\npossible crucial turning points for Indonesia amidst speculations
\nthat President Soeharto, now 73 years old, might step aside after
\nholding the reins since 1966.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is scheduled to hold its seventh general elections
\nin 1997 to elect members of the House of Representatives. The
\nfollowing year, the People's Consultative Assembly will convene
\nto elect the country's president and vice president.<\/p>\n
Hartono specifically asked Kopassus to intensify its strategic
\nintelligence capability so that it could detect and deflect as
\nearly as possible any indication that national stability could be
\ndisrupted.<\/p>\n
Kopassus spearheaded many military operations in the past,
\nincluding campaigns to quash the communist forces in 1965 and
\nseparatist insurgences in Aceh, Irian Jaya, and East Timor.<\/p>\n
It was also a Kopassus unit that was deployed to Don Muang
\nairport in Bangkok, Thailand, to storm and free the passengers of
\na Garuda Indonesia airliner that was hijacked by Indonesian
\nextremists in 1981.<\/p>\n
The anniversary ceremony yesterday was highlighted by a
\ndisplay of self defense skills of Kopassus troopers and free fall
\nparachuting demonstrations that was also joined by servicemen
\nfrom Australia, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Hartono, an infantry officer, yesterday was made an honorary
\nmember of Kopassus, receiving a red beret and the force's belt
\nand wings from Brig. Gen. Subagyo, the Kopassus chief.<\/p>\n
Attending the ceremony were Minister of Defense and Security
\nGen. (ret.) Edi Sudradjat, State Minister of People's Housing
\nAkbar Tanjung, Chief of ABRI's General Affairs Lt. Gen. Soeyono,
\nChief of the Army's Strategic Reserve Command Maj. Gen. Tarub,
\nformer chief of Udayana Military Command Maj. Gen. Sintong
\nPanjaitan and Deputy Chief of National Police on Operation
\nAffairs Maj. Gen. M.B. Hutagalung.<\/p>\n
Amir Santoso, a political analyst and military watcher of the
\nUniversity of Indonesia, who was present at the ceremony, praised
\nHartono for attempting to secure the upcoming elections so early.<\/p>\n
\"I appreciate the precautions he has taken since the elections
\nare both strategic and critical to the question of the national
\nleadership,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Brig. Gen. Subagyo later said he plans to request of Armed
\nForces (ABRI) Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung that Kopassus be allowed
\nto wear the old red-based camouflage fatigues.<\/p>\n
The old color was once the \"pride\" of Kopassus troopers,
\nSubagyo told reporters.<\/p>\n
A Kopassus spokesman explained that the red-based camouflage
\nfatigues were replaced with black-based fatigues in 1984 at the
\ninstruction of the Army chief of staff of the time. He could not
\nrecall the reason for the change.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, President Soeharto in a written speech read during
\na reception to mark Kopassus anniversary warned Kopassus not to
\nbask in its glorious past. \"Your past achievements and the high
\nprofessionalism you've managed to develop should not turn you
\ninto arrogant soldiers,\" according to the speech read by Gen.
\nFeisal.<\/p>\n
\"This force has always been in the lead to defend this
\nPancasila-based republic from all threats and challenges that
\ncome from within and outside the country,\" Soeharto said. (rms)<\/p>",
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