Wiranto warns of groups seeking radical reform<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto charged
\nyesterday there were groups in Indonesian society seeking to
\nengineer radical political and economic reform.<\/p>\n
\"Their intermediate target is to disrupt the upcoming General
\nSession of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR),\" said
\nWiranto when addressing a ceremony held to mark the transfer of
\nduty of Army chief of staff from himself to Gen. Subagyo
\nHadisiswoyo.<\/p>\n
Wiranto was installed as new Armed Forces (ABRI) chief,
\nreplacing Gen. Feisal Tanjung, last week.<\/p>\n
\"Their main target is to have total political and economic
\nreform in the country,\" he said. He failed to identify the
\ngroups.<\/p>\n
Later, when he addressed the press, he described his intention
\nto take an unequivocal stance against any attempts to disrupt the
\nfive-yearly political event. \"There will be no bargaining
\n(regarding the stance) in order to make the event a success,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"The MPR's General Session is the key to the country's
\ndevelopment process,\" he said. \"A failed MPR session will cause
\nproblems for development programs.\"<\/p>\n
He said he had instructed all soldiers to take firm action
\nagainst any unconstitutional attempts to disrupt the event.<\/p>\n
The 1,000-member MPR will convene from March 1 through March
\n11 to elect a president and vice president and to endorse the
\n1998\/2003 State Policy Guidelines.<\/p>\n
Wiranto also commented on some retired generals who have
\nbecome critical of the Armed Forces. He said they were a \"common\"
\nphenomenon.<\/p>\n
\"I believe that there are also some journalists, who are
\nunfortunately sick, whose opinions and ideas are different from
\nthe others',\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, he asserted that the Armed Forces in general,
\nincluding the retired officers, was as solid as ever.<\/p>\n
The transfer ceremony was attended by several former Army
\nchiefs of staff. They were Gen. (ret) Abdul Haris Nasution, Gen.
\n(ret) Makmun Murod, Gen. (ret) Poniman, Gen. (ret) Wismoyo
\nArismunandar, Gen. (ret) R. Hartono.<\/p>\n
Also present were defense attaches from friendly countries.<\/p>\n
Wiranto also confirmed yesterday that the Armed Forces would
\nnot waver in its support for civilian B.J. Habibie as the next
\nvice president.<\/p>\n
He said ABRI would always be consistent in its stance.<\/p>\n
\"A decision of ABRI today will remain the same tomorrow, the
\nday after tomorrow, and hereafter,\" he said. \"You should not
\nquestion the Armed Forces' stance on Habibie's nomination
\nanymore.\"<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces headquarters came out in support of Habibie's
\nvice presidency nomination, when it announced last Wednesday that
\nthe state minister of research and technology was its sole
\ncandidate.<\/p>\n
Then ABRI chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung said Habibie was the
\nappropriate figure to assist Haji Muhammad Soeharto with his
\nstate duties, including handling state problems and responding to
\nchallenges in the next five years.<\/p>\n
The outgoing ABRI chief also reaffirmed the Armed Forces'
\nsupport for the renomination of Soeharto.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces' announcement was made after the other four
\nMPR factions -- Golkar, the United Development Party, the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party and the regional representatives --
\nhad declared their candidates. (imn)<\/p>",
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