Gen. Feisal warns of disintegrative forces

Gen. Feisal warns of disintegrative forces

JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung warned last night of disintegrative forces at work as the nation prepares for the 1997 general election and the presidential election the following year.

The military will not allow any action that could tear the nation apart, Feisal said in a nationwide televised speech on the eve of ABRI's 51st anniversary.

"ABRI will act and will not take any risks whatsoever. It will always place the interests of the nation above those of groups or individuals, especially now when the nation is going through the various preparatory phases for the 1997 election," he said.

The military sees "the function of the election as not only to invigorate constitutional democracy, but also to guarantee sustainable development so the country stays on the right path as it advances and strives to reach its goals," he said.

"The general election is not a vehicle to preserve the status quo. It is part of the constitutional efforts to achieve the nation's goals," he said.

Feisal appealed to the nation to continue "to forge unity, preserve harmony, exercise wisdom and stay away from provocations for disintegrative behavior and other acts that could destroy the fruits of development."

He said the theme of this year's ABRI anniversary is to safeguard and ensure the success of the 1997 general election and the 1998 People's Consultative Assembly.

The assembly meets in March 1998 to elect a president and vice president.

Feisal said despite some shortcomings, ABRI has managed to move forward in its efforts to turn its posture into a professional, effective, efficient and modern force.

The ABRI anniversary celebration reaches its peak today with a military parade at the Senayan east parking lot, which will be led by President Soeharto. (emb)

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