Military handling of riot aftermath hailed

Military handling of riot aftermath hailed

JAKARTA (JP): Former Jakarta Military Commander Kentot Harseno
said over the weekend that the Jakarta Military Command acted
according to standard procedures in controlling the city after
the riot on July 27.

"I think the military has handled the city situation properly,
especially after the riot," Harseno told reporters after
launching his second book, entitled Introspeksi (Introspective),
at his residence on Jl. Ceger in East Jakarta.

The Jakarta Military Command has said that the troop
withdrawal has been completed as the military gave assurances
that the situation in the city is back to normal

The book launching coincided with the 31st anniversary of his
marriage. Harseno's first book, entitled Kepemimpinan dan
Kehidupan yang Wajar (Leadership and Natural Life) was published
in 1994.

Several senior officers were present at the book launching,
including the Chief of the Armed Forces's Sociopolitical Affairs
Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, two former Jakarta Military Commanders,
Lt. Gen. Wiranto and Maj. Gen. AM Hendroprijono and the Jakarta
Military Command's Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Sjafrie Samsuddin.

Harseno, who is the Inspector General for Development, made
the headlines after confidential memos he wrote leaked to the
press late last year. The memos reported that Transportation
Minister Haryanto Dhanutirto had misused funds belonging to state
enterprises overseen by the Ministry of Transportation.

President Soeharto, however, cleared the minister of the
embezzlement charge and asked him to be "introspective".

Harseno acknowledged that the title of his second book, which
was written in six months, was inspired by the president's word.
But he denied that he referred to the case. (jun)