Exaggerated interpretation

Exaggerated interpretation

From Tajuk

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto recently stated that the Indonesian Military (TNI) would oppose any side attempting to unconstitutionally topple the government.

It promptly drew reactions. One political expert said, amid the heated debate on the enmity between People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais and President Abdurrahman Wahid, that whatever Tyasno meant by his statement the public would interpret it as the military would stop any attempt by Amien Rais to replace the President.

Well, well. Is the statement not exaggerated? If Amien Rais with his People's Consultative Assembly were to dismiss Gus Dur from the presidency, it would be constitutional. It would not be possible for the military to stop the dismissal, because it would be constitutional.

Clearly there is only one interpretation for Tyasno's statement. The interception is directed at attempts to topple the government by physical force, or the climax would be a military coup.

SIDHARTA

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