Army heightens alert in run-up to election

JAKARTA (JP): The Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) is heightening alert in the lead-up to the general election and the 1998 presidential election.

Kostrad Chief Lt. Gen. Wiranto said in Malang, East Java, yesterday that his command was watching closely every sociopolitical development surrounding the election.

"We observe that the sociopolitical climate will continue heating up until the People's Consultative Assembly convenes (to elect a new President) in 1998," he said as quoted by Antara.

Wiranto made the remarks in his prepared address read by the Malang-based Kostrad Infantry Division-2 chief Maj. Gen. Jamari Chaniago during the division's 36th anniversary.

He said Kostrad was wary of every political development because past experience showed that something could go wrong unexpectedly.

"As an anticipative precaution, I called on every Infantry Division-2 member to be sensitive of people's wishes," Wiranto said.

Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) will vie for 425 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives on May 29.

The remaining 75 seats will be reserved for the Armed Forces, which plays a dominant role in local politics but does not participate in the election.

In the 1998 presidential election, President Soeharto, 76, is widely tipped to retain his post given the strong support from various organizations, especially those affiliated with Golkar.

Kostrad, Wiranto said, was working to stamp out security disturbances as soon as possible.

"We are determined to take harsh action against people who disrupt the general election," he said.

The celebration was enlivened with dangdut, a popular mix of folk and pop music. (pan)