Widodo says President's remark serves a warning<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Admiral
\nWidodo A.S. said on Sunday the President's statement that the 10
\npercent of military officers who were not loyal should serve as a
\nwarning for the military to strengthen its unity.<\/p>\n
\"That's why we are here today, to commemorate the death of
\nTNI's greatest commander Gen. Soedirman,\" Widodo said, referring
\nto the founding father of TNI.<\/p>\n
He called on the public to be patient in allowing the process
\nof reform within TNI, which he said would take a long time.<\/p>\n
The military could amend the structural organization quickly,
\nbut changing it would take a much longer time, he said.<\/p>\n
He added that TNI could only develop into a professional,
\neffective and efficient force in a conducive atmosphere.<\/p>\n
On the eve of his departure for a foreign trip last week, the
\nPresident dismissed rumors of a possible military coup, saying
\nthat he believed that at least 90 percent of TNI members remained
\nloyal to his government.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in his written speech read at the ceremony,
\nPresident Abdurrahman called on the nation to strengthen unity
\nand their sense of brotherhood.<\/p>\n
\"We should not accept all information that we receive
\nuncritically. Much of the information in the current freedom era
\ncan be manipulated,\" he said in the speech read by Widodo.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman hoped that by commemorating the death of
\nSoedirman, the military would become a progressive and solid
\nforce. TNI should also be more open to criticism, he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto dismissed
\nconcerns that the military would try to mount a coup while
\nPresident Abdurrahman was traveling overseas, saying that he
\nwould put his job on the line.<\/p>\n
\"I guarantee there will be no coup. If there's one, I will
\nrelinquish my job,\" Tyasno was quoted by Antara as saying in
\nSurabaya on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The fact that the President went ahead with his overseas trip
\nindicated his trust in the military, the general said.<\/p>\n
The military could not be bought by a financially strong
\npower, he said without elaborating.<\/p>\n
Political analysts believed the President appeared to have the
\nupper hand in the ongoing power struggle with some members of the
\nmilitary.<\/p>\n
Last week, he disclosed that he signed a decree requiring four
\nsenior TNI officers to resign from active service because they
\nhad accepted civilian posts in his Cabinet.<\/p>\n
The four include Gen. Wiranto, the former TNI chief who is now
\ncoordinating minister for political affairs and security.<\/p>\n
TNI officers have repeatedly dismissed the rumors of the coup
\nas unfounded.<\/p>\n
Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono, the first civilian to
\nhold the post, has also brushed aside the rumors, saying last
\nweek that TNI had neither the ability nor the intention to mount
\na coup. (44\/jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/widodo-says-presidents-remark-serves-a-warning-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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