Changes in the military

Changes in the Armed Forces (ABRI) command are always described as normal. This is especially true when the officer who is replaced has been in his position for quite some time. Dibyo Widodo, for example, has been chief of the Indonesian National Police since March 15, 1996. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who replaced Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso as Jakarta's military commander, has been in this post for a relatively short time: eight months.

But even a mere several months in office may be quite long. Maj. Gen. Johny Lumintang, for example, took over from Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto as Commander of Kostrad (Army Strategic Reserves Command) to remain in that post for just 18 hours. Yet, his replacement was also described as normal.

There is something interesting (in this context) in the remarks made by Police chief Dibyo Widodo. He said he was not resigning from the post but was being dismissed. And although he did not openly say that his present replacement was in some way connected with the Trisakti shooting incident (in which four students died), he did say: "I'd rather be dismissed than betray my subordinates and be unable to defend my corps."

Considering that statement, we cannot dismiss the possibility that his replacement and the Trisakti incident are, in some way, connected. If that is the case, we have reason to be sad. Nevertheless, we still put our faith in the good intentions of the ABRI leadership for as long as there is no proof that the currently circulating speculations are true.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta