Habibie orders ABRI to get tough

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie and Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto alleged on Thursday that certain groups have been continuing their campaign of provocation in an attempt to destabilize security and public order.

The President asserted the groups, which he did not identify, were using all possible means to foil the government's reform agenda, including the general election and presidential election planned respectively for May and December next year.

"Our campaign for reform is being marred by political actions and activities which tend to put forward physical strength by mobilizing crowds, either through demonstrations or other activities which obstruct norms, rules and ethics," the President said at a commander's call ceremony at the Merdeka Palace.

The event was attended by 130 of the military's top brass, including Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, National Police chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi, ABRI Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and ABRI Chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen. Fachrul Razi.

The meeting took place just one day after the Armed Forces held a seminar in Bandung on its role in the 21st century, and 12 days before its 53rd anniversary, which falls on Oct. 5.

Wiranto, who is also Minister of Defense and Security, said the commander's call was held to discuss the latest developments in the country.

Thursday's meeting was the second between the President, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and the country's top generals. The first meeting was held in June.

"To the rank and file of the Armed Forces, I instruct you to take preventive and proactive steps and actions, combined with a wise but firm attitude, to immediately end the activities of either individuals or groups who are openly working to keep the situation in the country uncontrollable, unsafe and unstable," the President said.

"ABRI has reached a conclusion that all attempts to threaten public order and state safety and governance must be sternly dealt with, at all risk and cost," Wiranto said in a statement, distributed after the meeting.

The President said the current wave of street protests and demonstrations had gone too far and breached the limits of tolerance.

He ordered the military leaders to stop ongoing looting and destruction of property in the regions, which he said was worsening the country's economic situation.

"Security must be brought under control and the law must be enforced," he remarked.

The meeting lasted more than two hours. Palace officials allowed cameramen and photographers to take pictures for few minutes at the beginning of the meeting. Journalists were told the room was too small and were barred from entering.

Upon realizing journalists were absent, the President ordered his officials to invite them all in.

"Please let them come in. They want to listen directly to my speech," the President said.

When Habibie opened the question-and-answer session, the journalists were asked to leave the Palace.

The text of Habibie's speech was made available only two hours after he delivered it.

Wiranto was scheduled to brief journalists after the meeting, but officials said the briefing had been canceled because the meeting lasted too long.

Earlier in the morning, Wiranto said that security officials had identified patterns in recent security disturbances which smacked of the past maneuvers of the outlawed Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

"People must remain alert to the danger of all communist- related activities," he told reporters after a monthly limited Cabinet meeting on political affairs and security.

"Such activities have interrupted our (people) efforts to guide the nation toward a better future," he said, while reminding people that maintaining security was not only ABRI's responsibility.

He said ABRI would take firm but lawful action against any activities which threatened security in the country.

"Learning from past experience, ABRI will be very careful when handling such activities because it does not want to be accused of violating human rights again," he said. (prb/imn)