Soeharto orders ABRI to safeguard election

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)