Army will remain loyal to the government: Endriartono

JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said on Friday that the Army would remain loyal to the government and not let anybody topple the national leadership by unconstitutional means.

"The nation's interests are paramount. We should never think of short-term interests, but rather be in for the long-term.

"Therefore, the national leadership succession should be based on long-term interests," Endriartono told reporters after performing Friday prayers at Army headquarters.

Rumors have been rife over the past week that Endriartono, backed by the Army's top brass, would take over the presidency by force.

He dismissed the rumors, saying that he could never countenance any unconstitutional change in the national leadership.

The Army chief said that the nations's leaders had been given specific terms of office and could not be replaced just on a whim.

"We have a Constitution. So, let's uphold it.

"If the appointment or the replacement of the national leadership is attempted through unconstitutional means, the Army will not tolerate it," Endriartono said, while warning all elements of the nation to eschew such unconstitutional means of changing the national leadership.

"We are not going to change our national leader every year based on trivial grounds.

"If these trivial issues lead to an unconstitutional change in the state leadership, the Army will not sit on the sidelines... we are going to face them," Endriartono said.

The four-star general suggested that if a change of leadership were desired, then the Indonesian people should bring this about in the constitutional way.

He also said that the Army would not tolerate any policies which would only worsen the plight of the nation.

The Indonesian Military (TNI)/National Police faction has supported the findings of the House of Representatives (DPR) special committee investigation into President Abdurrahman Wahid's alleged involvement in two financial scandals.

The House then issued a memorandum of censure against the President, and presented the committee's findings to the National Police and the Attorney General's Office.

In response to a question asking whether the memorandum could lead to the toppling of the President, Endriartono said: "As long as it is the will of the people and is constitutional, I will close my eyes and ears...," he said, while adding that it would have nothing to do with the Army if the President was toppled or continued in office until 2004. (02)