General outlines election security plan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) chief of General Affairs
\nLt. Gen. Soeyono said yesterday the military plans to maintain
\nsecurity during the 1997 general elections in a \"proportional\"
\nmanner with the aim of avoiding the loss of human lives.<\/p>\n
\"Security then and during the 1998 session of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly should not be approached as if we were
\nfacing enemies,\" Soeyono was quoted by Antara as saying in Bandar
\nLampung.<\/p>\n
\"We should strive to maintain security through preventive
\nmeasures. If repressive measures are needed, then they shouldn't
\nbe excessive,\" he added. \"They should be calculated so that they
\nwon't cause the loss of any human lives.\"<\/p>\n
Soeyono was speaking following his inspection of military
\npersonnel assigned to the general election's security units in
\nLampung province. Some 120 million eligible voters are expected
\nto go to the polls in the general election, scheduled for next
\nJune.<\/p>\n
Soeyono noted that it was important for military personnel to
\nmaintain their composure during the election, since there were
\ncertain parties who might attempt to cause unrest and provoke
\nthem.<\/p>\n
\"ABRI personnel in the regions should be wary of such
\ntactics,\" he said, adding that ABRI's image could be tarnished if
\nits members yielded to the provocations.<\/p>\n
\"No matter how harsh the words used against ABRI are, no
\nmatter how sordid their actions are, as long as they do not
\nendanger any life...we should continue to be strong and not be
\nprovoked,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He asserted, however, that ABRI \"would not hesitate\" to take
\naction against those who wanted to disrupt the five-yearly event.<\/p>\n
Later Soeyono said that, based on their investigation, ABRI
\nhas found that a number of people were responsible for triggering
\nthe various disturbances that had recently occurred in such areas
\nas Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, and Timika, Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
Soeyono stressed the importance of the presence of commanding
\nforces in the field any time a crisis erupts or during other
\nconditions predicted to be potentially unsettling.<\/p>\n
\"Don't just depend on long distance communication to handle
\nthe matter, no matter how sophisticated your tools are,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Also attending yesterday's inspection was Lampung Governor
\nPoedjono Pranyoto and Maj. Gen. Karyono of the Sriwijaya regional
\nmilitary command. (mds)<\/p>",
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