Soldiers face career choice

JAKARTA (JP): Some 4,000 members of the Armed Forces, currently employed in government jobs, must soon choose between continuing their jobs as pensioned officers or returning to the barracks.

Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto made the statement late Saturday in an address to the national congress of the Islamic Propagation Council.

"In the future, officers will have to choose between the Armed Forces or being retired officers (in government civilian jobs)", Wiranto said.

ABRI officials have announced that in line with the "new paradigm" of a reformed Armed Forces, they will no longer dominate civilian life. (rms/anr)