Harmful forces 'threaten state'

JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto warned yesterday of attempts by certain forces to destroy people's confidence in the government, including the military, which, if not stopped, could lead to national disintegration.

"There are people who have systematically been creating rumors to stir trouble. We can easily identify those who have been riding on the back of the reform movement but whose sincerity is questionable," Wiranto said in a press statement after meeting President B.J. Habibie at the Bina Graha presidential office.

These rumors, he said, confused the public and in turn made it more difficult for the nation to escape from the cycle of crisis.

Rumors suggesting that officials from the former New Order government were slowing down the reform process and trying to make a come back were "nothing but baseless and deceptive speculation".

"The goal of spreading such rumors is to destroy the people's confidence in state institutions, including ABRI," he said.

"If we allow them to continue, the nation will plunge deeper into crisis.

"In the end, conflicts among the nation's components will become unavoidable, which will eventually lead to national disintegration."

Wiranto, who is also minister of defense and security, declined to publicly point the finger of blame at anyone, saying that he had to respect the principle of presumption of innocence.

Also taking part in the one-hour meeting with the President were Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Gen.(ret) Feisal Tanjung, Minister of Home Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid and Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tanjung.

None of the officials were willing to disclose the topic of the meeting which was held, unusually, late in the afternoon. But Wiranto and Feisal read prepared texts to the press afterward.

Wiranto urged the nation to immediately cease all "emotional expressions" which would only make it difficult for the government and the nation to revive the development drive.

"I appeal to all public figures and politicians to help restore public calm," he said.

Feisal said some people had misinterpreted the meaning of reform, and had used reform as a tool to force their will upon others, or even to flaunt the law and public interests.

"Such actions could lead to anarchy, sow instability and endanger national unity and cohesion," he said.

Feisal said that some people had "conducted maneuvers aimed to bring the nation, by unconstitutional means, back to old ways of thinking and old paradigms, or even to restore the old government with antireform nuances."

"The government firmly believes that reform must continue in accordance with the wishes of the sovereign people," he said.

The coordinating minister said that Habibie's government had already set in motion various measures to implement reforms in the political, economic and legal sectors.

"But it must be understood that reforms essentially need time and due process."

He said that the government has also been trying to overcome the economic crisis, particularly to ensure sufficient supplies and proper distribution of basic needs.

"The government hereby appeals to the people to remain calm and to trust the government" in this endeavor, he said.

Feisal asked foreign companies to cast aside any hesitancy about investing in Indonesia and encouraged foreign tourists to visit Indonesia once again.

"The government fully guarantees their safety," he said.

He also called on economic analysts to stop making statements that confused the public.

Wiranto acknowledged crime in several regions of the country was increasing as a result of the economic crisis, with more and more incidents involving the use of violence.

He called on all members of ABRI to act firmly to ensure people's safety.

"To those who continue to undermine public calm, I warn them that they will suffer the consequences," he said without elaborating. (prb/emb)