Political temperature heats up: Feisal

Political temperature heats up: Feisal

JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung said
yesterday that with the approaching 1997 general election,
political temperature has been heating up.

"The heated political and security situation is not only
caused by maneuvers of the political parties contesting next
year's general election, but also by the activities of certain
pressure groups," he said as quoted by Antara in Bandung
yesterday.

He did not elaborate on what he meant by "pressure groups".

Briefing a gathering of 339 commandants of provincial and
district military commands from across the country, Feisal said
the activities of the pressure groups have become more
transparent and their activities worsened the domestic political
situation.

"Their aim is not only to disrupt next year's general
election, but also to undermine the government," he said.

He called on officials to maintain alertness and to make
accurate decisions in securing the 1997 general election and the
1998 general meeting of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

The three political groupings -- Golkar, the United
Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
-- will contest 425 of the 500 seats in the House of
Representatives (DPR). The remaining 75 seats are reserved for
members of the Armed Forces, whose members do not vote.

The 500 House members, with the 500 appointed members of the
MPR, will meet in March 1998 to elect a president for 1998-2003.

Accompanied by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Hartono and Chief of
the Army Territorial Center Maj. Gen. Adang Ruchiatna, Feisal
reminded officials to beware extremist elements working to
exploit explosive issues such as labor and land disputes or
social and religious conflicts.

He rejected observations from some political analysts that the
Armed Forces has become alienated from the people.

"The analysis is not true. Yet, we will consider the
observations as input," he said. (21/imn)