Govt urges paramilitary dissolution

JAKARTA: The government has asked political parties and organizations to dissolve their paramilitary units ahead of the 2004 general election, saying these groups violated the principles of democracy.

Speaking on Monday, Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil said he would propose a regulation banning paramilitary groups affiliated with political parties and organizations.

Matori is a member of the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, which has a paramilitary unit called Banser.

"These paramilitary units have to be dissolved because they tend to operate as a show of force rather than maintaining public security," Matori said.

He expressed concern that violence could occur during campaigning ahead of next year's elections if political parties deploy their paramilitary groups.

Indonesian Military chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto earlier urged the banning of paramilitary groups. -- JP