No coup d'etat planned by ABRI, says Agum<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor of the National Resilience Institute
\nLt. Gen. Agum Gumelar said on Thursday that the Armed Forces
\n(ABRI) would never consider launching a coup d'etat.<\/p>\n
This, he said, was because of its support for democracy based
\non the principles of Pancasila, adding that the Armed Forces was
\nresponsible for ensuring that the government did not abuse its
\nauthority.<\/p>\n
\"ABRI's loyalty to the nation will never change,\" Antara
\nreported Agum as saying in a paper read out at a seminar on
\ndemocracy at UPN Veteran University in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
The paper was read out by Brig. Gen. Sofyan Yacob, who is a
\nlecturer at the institute. \"This (loyalty) is ensured through
\ncommitment to our responsibility to safeguard and participate in
\nthe drive for democracy and social justice,\" Agum said.<\/p>\n
He went on to argue that history showed that ABRI \"had worked
\nhard to lay the foundations of development\" in all fields of the
\nnation's life.<\/p>\n
Agum pointed out that the Armed Forces' achievements and
\nshortcomings could not be separated from the politics of the
\npast, but stressed that the military was not used to legitimize
\nthe New Order regime.<\/p>\n
The general said that current threats to national unity should
\nbe dealt with wisely. \"ABRI is committed to helping the nation
\novercome the economic crisis in line with efforts to carry out
\nreform programs,\" he noted.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the government said on Thursday that the country
\nwould not develop its own military hardware, but would instead
\nwork to cut costs associated with operating existing military
\nequipment, including aircraft.<\/p>\n
\"For instance we need to think about spare parts problems and
\nthe standardization of military aircraft,\" State Minister of
\nTechnology Zuhal said after a meeting of the National Council for
\nAviation and Aeronautics at the Merdeka Palace. The meeting was
\nchaired by President B.J. Habibie. (prb)<\/p>",
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