Megawati tells soldiers not to feel inferior

Megawati tells soldiers not to feel inferior

CIPATAT, Bandung (JP) : Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri
told Indonesian soldiers on Friday not to feel inferior despite
their limited armory.

"It will be more important for you to develop a sense of
belonging to your corps and your nation in such a way that will
help you with your duties in securing our respected and beloved
country," Megawati said during the closing ceremony of the week-
long combat exercises of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command
(Kostrad) held at the command's Infantry Training Center in
Cipatat, Bandung.

"I've just heard from your superior about the limited military
equipment. We do really need these arms.

"But your spirit as combat soldiers should be more important
than a proper arms supply," she said while standing on top of a
Scorpion tank.

All of the 3,278 troops participating in the exercise were
members of the Cilodong-based Kostrad First Division, including
one company of logistics personnel, one Artillery battalion, one
company of tank personnel, one platoon of the Internal Affairs
Unit, one Infantry battalion, one platoon of Cavalry and one
platoon of combat engineers.

Kostrad has a total of 24,874 troops, which are divided into
two divisions. The second division is located in Malang, East
Java.

Megawati was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for
Political, Social, and Security Affairs Gen. (hor) Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono, the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Widodo AS and
Army chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto.

Also present were Commander of the Army's Special Force
(Kopassus) Maj. Gen. Amirul Isnaini, Jakarta Military commander
Maj. Gen. Slamet Kirbiyantoro and West Java's Siliwangi Military
commander Maj. Gen. Zainuri.

The military's poor arms supply was initially raised by
Kostrad chief Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu in a speech preceding
the Vice President's.

"It's not suitable anymore for our Infantry unit to use M-16
rifles as they are just ordinary standard weapons, while we do
not even have ammunition for our Cavalry's Scorpion tanks,"
Ryamizard said.

"This is the real situation. It is very expensive to set up a
professional military force," he added.

Meanwhile, Endriartono told Kostrad troops not to be hesitant
when performing their duties although they might have to deal
with human rights issues.

"As long as you follow the procedures and regulations, killing
or shooting at your enemy is not violating human rights.

"I will replace you on the defendant's chair as long as you
have lawfully and procedurally performed your duties,"
Endriartono said. (02)