Soeharto wants crime contained<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto called for a more concerted
\neffort yesterday to contain crime and violence, which have been
\non the rise in big Indonesian cities lately.<\/p>\n
Although the crime rate in Indonesia is still relatively low,
\n\"we cannot allow this trend to continue,\" Soeharto said in a
\nspeech during a graduation ceremony for cadets of the military
\nacademy at the Merdeka Palace ground.<\/p>\n
This trend is largely induced by social changes that have been
\ntaking place in Indonesia, he said. \"We need to study the social
\nchanges that are occurring and develop a system to prevent,
\ncontain and manage this trend together with the people.\"<\/p>\n
\"We shouldn't hesitate in studying from other countries who
\nhave experience in handling crime,\" he added.<\/p>\n
His remarks came as the nation is coming to grips with the
\nhorror of a gang rape in Bekasi this week.<\/p>\n
A woman and her two teenage daughters were the victims while
\nher husband was bound by a rope.<\/p>\n
The rape is the latest of a series of violent crimes that have
\nmade headlines in recent weeks. Other recent cases include the
\nkilling of a senior police officer and the murder of a television
\ncameraman, both in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Soeharto in his speech emphasized the need for greater public
\nparticipation in containing crime.<\/p>\n
A system is necessary to help people report any crime being
\ncommitted and also prevent people from taking the law into their
\nown hands, he said.<\/p>\n
At the ceremony yesterday, President Soeharto, who is also the
\nsupreme commander of the Armed Forces (ABRI), inaugurated 794 new
\ngraduates from the ABRI Academy. They consisted of 289 army
\nofficers, 140 naval officers, 109 air force officers and 256
\nnational policemen.<\/p>\n
The new officers, most of whom were accompanied by their
\nparents and relatives, were accorded the rank of second
\nlieutenant.<\/p>\n
Four of the new officers were presented by President Soeharto
\nthe Adhi Makayasa awards for coming top in their respective
\nclasses.<\/p>\n
The four are Djon Afriandi from the Army, Hery Setiyo Nugroho
\nfrom the Navy, Sapuan from the Air Force, and Sandi Nugroho from
\nthe Police Force.<\/p>\n
One proud father was Army Brig. Gen. Afiffudin Thaib, the
\nfather of Djon Afriandi, who told reporters that he had never
\nencouraged his son to join the military.<\/p>\n
\"I guess because we've always lived in a military circle,
\nmoving from one military housing complex to another, that he
\nchose to join ABRI,\" Afiffudin, who once served as the Army's
\nchief spokesman, was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
The other top graduates have different backgrounds: Hery
\nSetiyo Nugroho is the son of a teacher in Boyolali in East Java;
\nSapuan is the son of a farmer in Kudus, Central Java, and Sandi
\nNugroho is the son of a retired civil servant.<\/p>\n
Soeharto in his speech said that it is the officers corps who
\ndetermine the success or failure of the military in defending the
\nnation.<\/p>\n
He told the new officers that they should always remember that
\nABRI, besides being the national army, is the \"people's army\".<\/p>\n
\"This tradition of being united with the people is the chief
\nsource of ABRI's power. That's why we have to preserve this unity
\nof ABRI with the people,\" said Soeharto, who is himself a retired
\narmy general.<\/p>\n
Acknowledging that ABRI must strive to strengthen its skill
\nand professionalism, he said this quest for professionalism must
\nnot come at the expense of ABRI's long-held identity as the
\npeople's army.<\/p>\n
\"Professionalism is not an end. It's a means to allow (ABRI
\nmembers) to serve and help the nation achieve its goals,\" he
\nsaid. \"It is difficult to envisage the future of Indonesia -- and
\nthe future of ABRI itself -- if ABRI loses its identify.\" (imn)<\/p>",
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