ABRI always serves the nation

ABRI always serves the nation

On Feb. 11, 1998, I read a The Jakarta Post article which
states that the military denies accusations of orchestrating
unrest. It is customary that the first act of a person or
organization when accused, is to deny it. So denials are, in my
opinion, not too important, because any person or organization
will take that step when accused of committing some wrong doing.
It is like a reflex reaction.

But what is more serious is the emergence of this accusation.
Why was this accusation made? There must be a reason because as
the proverb says: There is no smoke without a fire.

I don't believe that the Armed Forces (ABRI) is orchestrating
riots. What would be the purpose of such a behavior. ABRI is the
only hope the people have because it can maintain peace and
order, creating a conducive situation in which the government can
concentrate on finding a speedy solution of this crisis, which
has brought so much material damage and created an atmosphere of
confusion and suspicion and distrust among the population.

Not only harmful issues originated from within the country.
There are also outside forces working against the government,
spreading rumors and anti-Chinese sentiments, of looting and
ransacking Chinese shops and creating an uncomfortable feeling on
the Indonesians, so that there will be an exodus to Malaysia and
Singapore.

This is reported in the International Herald Tribune, Feb. 11,
1998, in Indonesia's neighbors fear wave of refugees.

The paper reported that checkpoints at all coastal entry
points along the Malaysian peninsula have been stepped up to
anticipate an increase of illegal Indonesian immigrants.

I only want to point out that dangerous, harmful issues do not
originate only from within the country, but certain outside
forces are not happy when Indonesia is strong and united.

Only ABRI has experience in fighting and quelling bad issues
because it has eyes and ears everywhere. It is the right
organization and has the manpower to overcome this kind of
trouble.

If ABRI is active in orchestrating riots then it is serving a
certain partial interest and not the country as a whole. If ABRI
cannot maintain its position as a force standing above all
parties and groups, and if it stops serving the nation as a
whole, then only God can help our beloved country.

However, ABRI cannot work alone, it needs the help of all
responsible citizens, who are sincere in their willingness to
help their country. With the people's help, our country will
survive.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta