Military a last resort in managing conflicts: Mega
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.