Military a last resort in managing conflicts: Mega

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri stressed Thursday that armed force should be the last resort in managing conflicts throughout the country.

However, she called on the Indonesian military (TNI) and national police to stay on alert to deal with any conflicts.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony for military and police cadets on Thursday, Megawati said that soldiers should continuously improve their professionalism.

"Although the military approach is the last resort, you have to be prepared should the country need your service as a final measure to handle a conflict," Megawati said.

"This consideration should be the basic principle for the security apparatus in tackling conflicts across the country," she said in front of 892 new military and police graduates.

She further underlined that in the past, the country had seen that sometimes social and economic approaches were not enough to handle the situation, and an effective use of force was needed.

Indonesia has suffered widespread conflicts since the downfall of former president Soeharto in 1998, and has lost thousands of civilians in such incidents.

Meanwhile, security personnel have been reluctant in recent years to use force against instigators for fear of being charged with human rights violations.

TNI and the national police had also been pressured to reform and to abandon their political role.

Since the reform movement in 1998, the government has repeatedly chosen the long route of peaceful measures in dealing with conflicts, with the most recent case being the signing of the peace agreement between the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) on Dec. 9.

"It is true that there is no country in the world that does not need soldiers and policemen, but the most important thing is the necessity of having professional soldiers and police personnel," Megawati stressed.

During the ceremony, Megawati also urged the new cadets to learn and continuously adjust themselves with changes in the country.

"Try to learn and understand the aspirations of the people around you, because you serve them," she said.

Megawati stressed that the law enforcement apparatus should be a model example of the rule of law.

"As for all police personnel, you should have the capability and understanding to use the law as your main weapon in keeping public order," she said.

The ceremony was held at the Merdeka Palace and attended by the country's top officials, including Vice President Hamzah Haz and House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung.

Megawati also presented awards to the best graduates from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Police academies.