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)