Presidential election will be safe: Wiranto

Presidential election will be safe: Wiranto

SURABAYA (JP): Army Chief Gen. Wiranto said yesterday that
security ahead of the 1998 presidential election was guaranteed.

The election of the president by the People's Consultative
Assembly is scheduled for March next year.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating Maj. Gen. Djadja
Suparman as the new East Java military chief, Wiranto said the
military was well-prepared to secure the event.

"I've traveled around the country, including to East Timor and
Irian Jaya. The situation is really under control," Wiranto said.

"I see no problem. The situation is really good," he said.

President Soeharto is widely tipped to retain his post which
he has held over the past 30 years.

Yesterday's regional military chief inauguration ceremony was
attended by top Army officials, including Chief of Army Reserve
Strategic Command Lt. Gen. Soegiyono and Chief of Army Special
Forces Maj. Gen. Prabowo Subianto.

Also present were the newly-appointed assistant to the Armed
Forces chief of sociopolitical affairs Maj. Gen. Bambang S.
Yudoyono, Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Robik Mukav, former House
Speaker and former East Java military chief Maj. Gen. (ret)
Syaiful Sulun.

New East Java Military Chief Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman
replaced Maj. Gen. Imam Utomo, who will become a House of
Representatives legislator representing the Armed Forces.

In his speech at Djadja's inauguration, Wiranto called on all
Armed Forces members to intensify dialogue with all layers of
society. (nur/aan)