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)