Govt urges paramilitary dissolution

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