Soldiers told to remain firm in face of plot to ruin Army's image
JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto told soldiers on Monday not to be discouraged by claims by certain groups that the military was behind all the security problems in the country.
"The Army has been unfairly treated and accused as the culprit in all the security disturbances.
"They (the groups) also describe the Army as an untouchable institution, even above the Law," Endriartono said during a speech marking the installment of Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo as the new Jakarta Military commander, replacing Maj. Gen. Slamet Kirbiantoro.
He said such accusations had made soldiers feel that they were being used by their generals to destroy the country.
"The final agenda of these groups by continuously cornering us (the Army) is to disrupt the country," he said.
The Army chief, however, declined to name the groups.
"You can identify them from the statements they have made. I wonder whether they do it to help improve the military's performance or whether they have a hidden agenda," he said.
He cited that the most recent accusation against the military was of involvement in the Christmas Eve's bombings.
"I do not say or even guarantee that none of my men were involved in the year-end incidents. But, they (the groups) must have strong evidence to accuse someone of being involved in a crime," Endriartono said.
Bibit is the outgoing commander of the Army Staff and Command School (Seskoad), while Slamet, who has served as Jakarta military chief for only six months, will be assigned as deputy inspector general of the Indonesian Military (TNI).
When asked whether the replacement of Slamet was connected with the bombing incidents which occurred during his leadership, Endriartono said the reshuffle was merely to anticipate possible further security threats in the future.
"The capital needs special treatment by someone who has a special capability.
"Before it (security disturbance) happens, there must be a replacement (of the military chief)," he said.
Bibit, a 1972 graduate of the Armed Forces Academy (Akabri), was critical of President Abdurrahman Wahid when he served as the Diponegoro Military commander overseeing Central Java in 1999. Speculation was rife that it was this criticism that had eventually got him sent to Bandung as the Seskoad chief.
Separately, former TNI chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto dismissed speculation that Slamet's replacement was politically motivated.
"I cannot say whether there is a political interest behind it. The most important is that the reshuffle has met the TNI's requirements in terms of morality, quality and acceptability," Wiranto said.
He also dismissed speculation that Bibit was among the Army generals affiliated to him.
"People may say that there are groupings in the military. But, they must give me clear reasons for saying that," Wiranto said.
Similarly, Bibit denied that he was one of Wiranto's men.
"I don't know and I don't understand (about groupings in the military). And I'm not Wiranto's man, either," he said.
Meanwhile, some 4,000 kilometers away from Jakarta, a military ceremony was held in Jayapura, the capital of Irian Jaya, on Monday marking the installment of Maj. Gen. Mahidin Simbolon as the new commander of Irian Jaya's Trikora Military Command replacing the late Maj. Gen. Tonny A. Rompis.
Rompis, along with Irian Jaya Police chief Insp. Gen. F.X. Soemardi and seven other passengers including the pilot, died in a plane crash in the Jayawijaya mountain range on Jan. 8.
Monday's ceremony was overseen by Army deputy chief Lt. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri on behalf of Endriartono.
Kiki in his address urged the new provincial military commander to be wise, particularly in facing the challenge of separatism in the country's easternmost province.
"In the wake of the aspirations of some Irianese to separate (the province) from Indonesia, the Trikora military commander and all of his personnel must look at the problem with clear and objective views," Kiki said, while addressing the ceremony. (02/35/edt)