Soeharto orders ABRI to safeguard election

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto yesterday ordered the Armed Forces (ABRI) to make every effort to protect the 1997 general election against possible disturbances.

"ABRI must do everything in its power to safeguard the general election against any incident that could tarnish its reputation as the clearest manifestation of people's sovereignty," Soeharto said in a speech marking ABRI's 51st anniversary.

Conflicts in some political organizations could disrupt the peaceful atmosphere needed during the election, he said, without specifically stating which organizations.

ABRI Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung in his speech on the eve of ABRI's anniversary on Friday also stressed that safeguarding the general election and the presidential election in 1998 will be among the military's chief priorities in the coming year.

The anniversary, held in the huge parking lot outside the Senayan sports stadium, also included a parade involving 18,000 troops from all services.

ABRI's newly acquired British-made Hawk jet fighters made their debut at the parade, making aerobatic flybys, together with American-built F-16 fighters.

There was a colorful, hour-long pageant depicting the history and the role of ABRI, from the time it was local militias fighting for independence against the Dutch, to its incorporation a few months after Indonesia gained independence on Aug. 17, 1945, and to the present day.

The epic was played by 600 troopers and members the association of wives of servicemen (Persit). The drama was choreographed by Roy Tobing while the music was directed by Idris Sardi.

President Soeharto stressed that while some people are bound to be discontent with the economic disparity and injustices, it is no excuse for them to sow hatred and resort to acts of provocation.

"Discontent with the disparity and injustices is normal. In fact, the feeling of discontent can be positive and negative. It is positive if it becomes the source of motivation for people to work even harder to improve the situation.

"But it is negative if it is used as a basis to sow jealousy, hatred and provocation," he said.

"This sounds pathetic, but some people would resort to negative and unconstructive methods. Their attitude clearly poses a security risk," he said.

"There is no place (in this country) for people who channel their discontent into jealousy, hatred and acts of provocation that could endanger society, the state and the country," he said.

While the 1945 Constitution guarantees freedom of association and freedom of expression, all are regulated by laws and therefore everyone must comply, Soeharto said.

The 1945 Constitution also states that everybody is equal before the law, he added.

The President warned that those who seek change through radical means will exploit every opportunity they have.

The security apparatus must develop appropriate tactics and technics to counter, contain and suppress all kinds of provocation, wherever it comes from, and wherever it is targeted, he said.

He said the National Police is expected to take the initiative in containing domestic security problems.

"Only if it is necessary, should the other services be brought in," he said, referring to the Army, Navy and Air Force, which together with the National Police make up ABRI.

The government will continue with its present efforts to beef up and strengthen the National Police, he promised.

Soeharto called for greater efforts to suppress crime. "Only in a peaceful situation can our people enjoy the fruits of development which they labored for," he said.

Many criminal acts have their origins in unemployment and poverty, he said. "That's why to reduce the crime rate, national development must succeed in offering jobs and prosperity to the people," he said.

President Soeharto also conferred Bintang Dharma, a meritorious award given to officers whose services exceed expectation, to Lt. Gen. Wiranto, the chief of the Army Strategic Reserves Command.

A 1968 graduate of the National Military Academy, Wiranto was director of the highly successful and massive joint military exercise held in Natuna, Riau, last month. His previous stints include President Soeharto's adjutant and chief of the Jakarta Military Command. (imn)