Military makes no special plans over heightened political tension<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The city military command did not take special
\nprecautions over the continuing tension between President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid and Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs
\nand Security Gen. Wiranto, an official said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"The Jakarta Military Command did not deploy troops at some
\nvital installations in the capital following deteriorating
\nrelations between the President and the Coordinating Minister,\"
\nJakarta military spokesman, Lt. Col. Djazairi Nachrowi, told
\nreporters.<\/p>\n
Nachrowi had just returned from a ceremony celebrating the
\n50th anniversary of the Army's Cavalry Corps in Cijantung, East
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
He dismissed allegations that some troops, armed with machine
\nguns, had been deployed at several public places, including toll
\ngates.<\/p>\n
\"People should pay careful attention, so not to be confused
\nwhen troops are just waiting for buses at toll gates and not
\npatrolling surrounding areas,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Indeed, some Jakarta military command's territorial officers
\ncould be seen at certain companies here, but it was their duty to
\nmaintain security and order in those areas,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Nachrowi also said that it was the city police's task to
\nmaintain security and order in the city.<\/p>\n
Tension between the President and the Coordinating Minister
\nstarted early last month when the local press quoted a statement
\nby the chairman of the Japan-Indonesia Parliament Friendship
\nLeague, Taku Yamasaki, which was published in some Japanese
\nmedia, including Kyodo news agency, as saying that he would
\nremove several ministers, including Wiranto, from the cabinet.<\/p>\n
After first challenging the validity of the press report,
\nPresident Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, later confirmed
\non Jan. 27 that Wiranto and the other three active military
\nofficers serving in the Cabinet would retire on March 31.<\/p>\n
The president then said last week that Wiranto should resign
\nas Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security,
\nfollowing allegations of his involvement in the East Timor
\nviolence following the August 1999 balloting there.<\/p>\n
The tension further increased on Monday as the president
\nprecipitated another showdown with former Indonesia Military
\n(TNI) chief Gen. (ret) Feisal Tanjung.<\/p>\n
The president said Feisal, who became coordinating minister
\nfor political and security affairs in 1997, once ordered Wiranto,
\nwho was then chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command, to
\neliminate him and now Vice-President Megawati Soekarnoputri, in
\nthat year.<\/p>\n
Feisal has strongly denied the accusation. But, the statement
\nhas created tension in the city as local media have reported that
\nseveral former high ranking military officers attended a meeting
\non Tuesday, to discuss the president's statements.<\/p>\n
Nachrowi conceded that the Jakarta military command have
\nemphasized daily activities in the barracks but only to increase
\nthe soldiers' basic combat capability.<\/p>\n
\"The exercises have not been prepared to create a coup or a
\ncontingency situation in the city.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta military command is only trying to fulfill the
\npeople's demand to maintain professionalism among the troops,\" he
\nsaid. (asa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/military-makes-no-special-plans-over-heightened-political-tension-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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