Harmful forces 'threaten state'
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)