General outlines election security plan

General outlines election security plan

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) chief of General Affairs
Lt. Gen. Soeyono said yesterday the military plans to maintain
security during the 1997 general elections in a "proportional"
manner with the aim of avoiding the loss of human lives.

"Security then and during the 1998 session of the People's
Consultative Assembly should not be approached as if we were
facing enemies," Soeyono was quoted by Antara as saying in Bandar
Lampung.

"We should strive to maintain security through preventive
measures. If repressive measures are needed, then they shouldn't
be excessive," he added. "They should be calculated so that they
won't cause the loss of any human lives."

Soeyono was speaking following his inspection of military
personnel assigned to the general election's security units in
Lampung province. Some 120 million eligible voters are expected
to go to the polls in the general election, scheduled for next
June.

Soeyono noted that it was important for military personnel to
maintain their composure during the election, since there were
certain parties who might attempt to cause unrest and provoke
them.

"ABRI personnel in the regions should be wary of such
tactics," he said, adding that ABRI's image could be tarnished if
its members yielded to the provocations.

"No matter how harsh the words used against ABRI are, no
matter how sordid their actions are, as long as they do not
endanger any life...we should continue to be strong and not be
provoked," he said.

He asserted, however, that ABRI "would not hesitate" to take
action against those who wanted to disrupt the five-yearly event.

Later Soeyono said that, based on their investigation, ABRI
has found that a number of people were responsible for triggering
the various disturbances that had recently occurred in such areas
as Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, and Timika, Irian Jaya.

Soeyono stressed the importance of the presence of commanding
forces in the field any time a crisis erupts or during other
conditions predicted to be potentially unsettling.

"Don't just depend on long distance communication to handle
the matter, no matter how sophisticated your tools are," he said.

Also attending yesterday's inspection was Lampung Governor
Poedjono Pranyoto and Maj. Gen. Karyono of the Sriwijaya regional
military command. (mds)