Mega urges military to help solve country's problems

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.