'Beware of risks to MPR assembly'

'Beware of risks to MPR assembly'

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) chief, Gen. Feisal
Tanjung, told the Army yesterday to prepare for the general
assembly of the People's Consultative Council (MPR) next March.

"Beware of a campaign to disrupt next year's general assembly
of the People's Consultative Council," Feisal said during a
ceremony to transfer the Army chief of staff post from Gen. R.
Hartono to the newly promoted Gen. Wiranto at the Army
headquarters.

Feisal said the Armed Forces had identified parties who had
attempted to foil the election campaign and the May 29 general
election.

"There is a great possibility that they will repeat their
unconstitutional actions before the MPR's general assembly next
year," he said.

This year's election campaign was marred by clashes between
supporters of the three parties -- the United Development Party
(PPP), Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). And
between party supporters, the general public and security
personnel.

The 1,000-strong council will meet next March to elect a
president and vice president and adopt the five-year State
Guidelines.

Feisal told Wiranto to make necessary preparations and guide
his soldiers so that they were more able to safeguard the
country's most significant political event.

"Prepare your soldiers so that they will not make procedural
mistakes on the job," he said.

Feisal told soldiers and other Armed Forces personnel to be
professional.

"Professional ABRI personnel are expected to act as agents for
democratization and campaign to improve people's welfare," he
said.

Yesterday's ceremony was part of a series of substantial
changes in the cabinet and the Armed Forces.

Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono announced last Friday that
Wiranto would replace Hartono, who became the minister of
information replacing Harmoko. Harmoko was given a new cabinet
post as state minister of special assignments.

The Armed Forces reshuffle also saw the appointment of Lt.
Gen. Subagyo Hadi Siswoyo as the new deputy Army chief of staff;
Lt. Gen. Sugiono as the new chief of the Army Strategic Reserve
Command, replacing Wiranto; Maj. Gen. Sutarto as the commander of
the Presidential Security Guards; and Maj. Gen. Mardjianto as the
new chief of the Central Java Regional Military Command.

The ceremony was attended by several four-star retired
generals, including Abdul Haris Nasution, M. Panggabean, Poniman,
Makmun Murod, Edi Sudradjat and Wismoyo Arismunandar. They are
all former Army chief of staff.

Several three-star retired generals attended the ceremony,
including Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo, Wahono and F.X. Sudjasmin.
They are all former deputies of the army chief of staff.

Cabinet ministers, Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs
and Security Soesilo Soedarman, Coordinating Minister for
People's Welfare Azwar Anas and Minister of Home Affairs Moch.
Yogie S.M., also attended.

On Wiranto's appointment, the country's first army chief of
staff, Gen. (ret) Abdul Haris Nasution, said he was glad the
military reshuffle had been conducted systematically and orderly.

"There have been significant improvements in the Armed Forces'
personnel development, unlike what I experienced. I was only 30
years of age when I was installed as the army chief of staff," he
said.

He said several Armed Forces' younger officers had
significantly developed their careers, citing Maj. Gen. Prabowo
Subianto, commandant-general of the Army's Special Force, as a
future military leader in the making.

"I have known him for a long time. He told me long ago that he
wished to become the Army chief of staff someday," Nasution said.
(imn)