Army chief lashes out at bickering politicians

JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto lashed out on Friday at bickering civilian politicians, who he said were grabbing power with utter disregard of the negative repercussions for the nation.

Endriartono said political leaders in the country were currently consumed with attaining power.

"What has come to the fore is how to get power. One statement after the other comes out that is not enlightening (but confusing)," Endriartono was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

"The results of this situation are felt in (failed) efforts to revive the economy and a worsening of the security situation," Endriartono said while addressing students at the Staff and Command College in Bandung.

"It is under this situation that TNI (the Indonesian Military), even though it has asserted its commitment not to enter practical politics, is still viewed as a primary political force ... (even though) we are in a distressed situation," he said.

Endriartono, who assumed his current post a month ago, called for a commitment by all political components of the nation to lift the country out of its dire situation by putting national interests above personal and group interests.

He also warned that a joint commitment was necessary given the rising threat of the disintegration of the unitary state due to increased demands for independence, which he said were spurned by economic interests and disparities between the central government and the regions.

People in regions rich in natural resources, such as Irian Jaya, Aceh and Riau, want to enhance their welfare, but feel the central government has ignored them. Therefore, they have became eager for independence, Endriartono, a 1971 graduate of the Armed Forces Academy, said.

"Reviving the economy has become a must if the country wants to emerge from this messy situation. Economic recovery will have a powerful influence on political and security stability," Endriartono said.

Addressing separatist demands in Irian Jaya and Aceh, Endriartono said the military could only conduct operations based on the decisions of politicians.

These decisions, which should be reached through cooperation between the government and the House of Representatives, will become the legal umbrella for TNI in taking concrete action to defend the unitary state, Endriartono said.

"Furthermore, politicians prefer to use the police," he said, adding that the military could only become directly involved if an emergency situation was declared or if ordered by the President, with the approval of the House.

"What we all need now is a declaration that this nation will not tolerate any separatist activities. TNI by itself cannot make such a declaration because we are not political decisionmakers," Endriartono said. (02)i