Mega urges military to help solve country's problems
Tiarma Siboro and Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya/Makasar
President Megawati Soekarnoputri told the Indonesian Military (TNI) on Sunday to "build a bridge over the country's troubled water" resulting from various conflicts and competition among political interests, which have harmed the nation's integrity.
Addressing TNI personnel during the commemoration of its 58th anniversary in Surabaya, the President said the military was sometimes placed in difficult situations due to the political interests of certain elements that wished to win support from the military while, on the other hand, it was expected to bind "Indonesia's diverse society as a single nation".
Megawati pointed out that the TNI was the only institution people could rely on to resolve conflicts, but warned that due to its strategic role, the military could be lured into serving the political interests of certain individuals or groups.
"That is wrong. The TNI is supposed to be an instrument that unites all elements in the country," Megawati said.
She reminded the TNI of its pledge to abandon its involvement in day-to-day politics and to focus instead on its main role as a defense force to maintain the unity of the state.
"Indeed, the military has to improve its professionalism," she added.
Earlier, TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto had said the military would remain neutral and impartial in the 2004 general elections.
The anniversary celebration, which was held at the Navy's eastern fleet headquarters in Surabaya, East Java, was attended by several ministers and top politicians, including Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar. Both are former Army generals and are reported to have an eye on the presidential seat.
All three chiefs of staff were also present, along with Amien Rais, Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, and Akbar Tandjung, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The President further urged the military to keep in mind that it was part of the people, and that the people's power was even stronger than any military might.
"When our founding fathers created the Constitution prior to the country's independence in 1945, they inserted articles that stipulate that the Army, the Navy and the Air Force are defense forces.
"But the people's power is considered more important to maintain the state. We can see this in our past, when our leaders were held hostage by the colonialists, but their capture failed to eliminate the state because the people were determined to fight against the imperialists."
The military's anniversary celebrations were marred by an incident in Makassar, South Sulawesi, during which a marine caught on fire from a grenade explosion during a demonstration.
Second Sgt. Heri suffered severe burns after his antiterrorism suit caught ablaze during a demonstration held to highlight the TNI's anniversary celebrations at Mandala Square. The suit was supposed to be fire-resistant.
Spectators at first thought the fire was part of the attraction and cheered when the flames burst forth. Efforts to put out the fire failed due to the absence of a proper fire extinguisher at the site.
Heri was rushed to the hospital, where he lapsed into a coma.
As of Sunday, he remained in critical condition at Pelamonia Army Hospital, where he is being treated for fourth-degree burns.
South Sulawesi Military Commander Maj. Gen. Suprapto spent several hours on Sunday at the hospital monitoring his condition.
"It was an accident caused by sparks from a smoke grenade used in the demonstration," he said.
None of Heri's family members were able to come and see him, as they all live in West Java. Heri's mother died only a week before, according to a fellow marine.