Soldiers told to maintain discipline
Soldiers told to maintain discipline
JAKARTA (JP): Without a high degree of discipline, integrity
and loyalty, soldiers will end up becoming trigger-happy and harm
the nation, the newly installed Jakarta military commander Maj.
Gen. Wiranto said yesterday.
Without those values soldiers are nothing, he said. "That's
why to be a true soldier you should have a high level of
discipline and integrity," Wiranto told some 80 lower ranking
non-commissioned officers as he closed the training programs for
them at the army infantry school.
Wiranto, who replaced Maj.Gen. Hendropriyono earlier this
month, said the infantry has an important role which differs from
other branches of the army. "History has shown us that infantry
detachments are always the spearhead in wars. They were, are and
will always be at the forefront in wars," the two-star general
pointed out as quoted by Antara.
He said an infantry soldier is required to have a high degree
of capabilities, unflinching courage, a never-say-die fighting
spirit and be prime physical shape.
Cleansing
On a separate occasion yesterday, Wiranto said the army-
sponsored Operation Cleansing, which was launched last April to
combat crime in the Jakarta area, will be in force again on New
Year's Eve.
"Criminals usually try to make the most of situations on
holidays, including New Year's Eve. That's why we'll be on the
alert," he told reporters.
Wiranto said 20,000 officers from the army, navy, air force and
police force will be deployed on New Year's Eve.
The number includes patrol men on motorcycles who will patrol
the city non-stop. All the security officers in charge will carry
pagers.
The operation, the formation of which was mostly triggered by
the death of Brig. Gen.TMF Tampubolon by four drunken men last
April, was initially designed to crack down on the sale of illegal
alcoholic drinks and drugs, as well as the use of firearms and sharp
weapons.
Wiranto called on the public to exercise moderation when
celebrating the New Year. This, he said, would greatly help security
officers maintain security and public order.(bas)