Involve public in security, says Moetojib
Involve public in security, says Moetojib
JAKARTA (JP): Public involvement is the most important step in
preventing small problems from escalating into explosive unrests,
as the reach of intelligence and security authorities is too
small to encompass all potential troubles, a senior official
says.
Head of the State Intelligence Coordination Body Let. Gen.
(ret) Moetojib said, after a meeting with President Soeharto here
yesterday, it was vital that all people were involved in
maintaining security.
"Security cannot be left to the intelligence and troops alone.
Their numbers are limited," he said.
Moetojib was responding to queries about the recent flurry of
violence in the country, some of which seems to have taken the
authorities by surprise.
"You can't say the authorities have been outmaneuvered,
because...the situation is such, we have enemies, let's say anti-
integrationists, those who are discontent," he said.
He said anti-integration groups and others unhappy with the
system have often triggered unrest along ethnic, class, religious
and racial lines.
He said the source of unrest may be small but should be
anticipated nevertheless.
"Those opponents fomenting unrest are merely taking advantage
of sensitive issues...(they manipulate the issues) to benefit
their own purposes," he said.
In addition to better-integrated public effort, military
divisions including the subdistrict and neighborhood military
units could help quell agitation in the early stages.
"If necessary, security posts could be placed nationwide in
order to help the public detect potential trouble. This would
result in quicker response time in dealing with the problems,"
Moetojib said.
"The command posts should involve community members and local
leaders at various levels," he said. "That way, if there were
people who instigated or caused trouble, the posts would be able
to detect them."
"Intensified effort by the people is the key to maintaining
the peace and our country's national stability," he said.
Moetojib stressed the recent unrests in Jakarta, East Java
town of Situbondo, West Java town of Tasikmalaya, and Sanggau
Ledo district in West Kalimantan were signs of the growing pains
in Indonesia's development program.
"Development is a learning process. There are weaknesses in
our country. However, it's the problems, rather than the progress
we have achieved, that are highlighted more often by the media."
"Little is said about people today enjoying good homes and
nice buildings, riding motorcycles and traveling to nice places,"
he said, adding that the press should strive for balanced
reporting.
Moetojib said he discussed with the President how East Timor
separatist leader Ramos Horta had escalated his campaign against
Indonesia after becoming co-winner of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize.
"For us, the East Timor question is settled. If Portugal
doesn't think so, then that's its problem," he said.
He said Lisbon's backing of the Fretilin separatist movement
in East Timor was prompted by the movement's leftist ideology.
Moetojib appealed to allies abroad to realize the dangers of
Fretilin's left-wing movement and prevent the further spread of
their influence.
"We need to convince other countries that (the Fretilin) is
fighting for leftist ideology," he said. (01)