Mega urges military to help solve country's problems<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro and Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post,
\nSurabaya\/Makasar<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri told the Indonesian Military
\n(TNI) on Sunday to \"build a bridge over the country's troubled
\nwater\" resulting from various conflicts and competition among
\npolitical interests, which have harmed the nation's integrity.<\/p>\n
Addressing TNI personnel during the commemoration of its 58th
\nanniversary in Surabaya, the President said the military was
\nsometimes placed in difficult situations due to the political
\ninterests of certain elements that wished to win support from the
\nmilitary while, on the other hand, it was expected to bind
\n\"Indonesia's diverse society as a single nation\".<\/p>\n
Megawati pointed out that the TNI was the only institution
\npeople could rely on to resolve conflicts, but warned that due to
\nits strategic role, the military could be lured into serving the
\npolitical interests of certain individuals or groups.<\/p>\n
\"That is wrong. The TNI is supposed to be an instrument that
\nunites all elements in the country,\" Megawati said.<\/p>\n
She reminded the TNI of its pledge to abandon its involvement
\nin day-to-day politics and to focus instead on its main role as a
\ndefense force to maintain the unity of the state.<\/p>\n
\"Indeed, the military has to improve its professionalism,\" she
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Earlier, TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto had said the
\nmilitary would remain neutral and impartial in the 2004 general
\nelections.<\/p>\n
The anniversary celebration, which was held at the Navy's
\neastern fleet headquarters in Surabaya, East Java, was attended
\nby several ministers and top politicians, including Coordinating
\nMinister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono and Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar. Both are
\nformer Army generals and are reported to have an eye on the
\npresidential seat.<\/p>\n
All three chiefs of staff were also present, along with Amien
\nRais, Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, and Akbar
\nTandjung, Speaker of the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
The President further urged the military to keep in mind that
\nit was part of the people, and that the people's power was even
\nstronger than any military might.<\/p>\n
\"When our founding fathers created the Constitution prior to
\nthe country's independence in 1945, they inserted articles that
\nstipulate that the Army, the Navy and the Air Force are defense
\nforces.<\/p>\n
\"But the people's power is considered more important to
\nmaintain the state. We can see this in our past, when our leaders
\nwere held hostage by the colonialists, but their capture failed
\nto eliminate the state because the people were determined to
\nfight against the imperialists.\"<\/p>\n
The military's anniversary celebrations were marred by an
\nincident in Makassar, South Sulawesi, during which a marine
\ncaught on fire from a grenade explosion during a demonstration.<\/p>\n
Second Sgt. Heri suffered severe burns after his antiterrorism
\nsuit caught ablaze during a demonstration held to highlight the
\nTNI's anniversary celebrations at Mandala Square. The suit was
\nsupposed to be fire-resistant.<\/p>\n
Spectators at first thought the fire was part of the
\nattraction and cheered when the flames burst forth. Efforts to
\nput out the fire failed due to the absence of a proper fire
\nextinguisher at the site.<\/p>\n
Heri was rushed to the hospital, where he lapsed into a coma.<\/p>\n
As of Sunday, he remained in critical condition at Pelamonia
\nArmy Hospital, where he is being treated for fourth-degree burns.<\/p>\n
South Sulawesi Military Commander Maj. Gen. Suprapto spent
\nseveral hours on Sunday at the hospital monitoring his condition.<\/p>\n
\"It was an accident caused by sparks from a smoke grenade used
\nin the demonstration,\" he said.<\/p>\n
None of Heri's family members were able to come and see him,
\nas they all live in West Java. Heri's mother died only a week
\nbefore, according to a fellow marine.<\/p>",
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