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)