TNI chief warns against secessionist movements

TNI chief warns against secessionist movements

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Newly installed Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Gen. Endriartono
Sutarto issued a strong warning to secessionist movements on
Wednesday, saying that efforts to separate from the unitary state
of the Republic of Indonesia would be crushed with military
operations.

Speaking to journalists in his first press conference as TNI
chief at the Cilangkap military headquarters in East Jakarta,
Endriartono urged rebel groups to end their struggle against the
legitimate government as "the country has been quite patient in
dealing with them."

"If we agree to keep the country united, we should not
tolerate any secessionist movement," said Endriartono, who was
installed as the new TNI chief last June 7 replacing Adm. Widodo
Adisutjipto of the Navy.

Endriartono was accompanied by the Army Chief of Staff Gen.
Ryamizard Ryacudu, Air Force Chief of Staff Marshall Chappy
Hakim, Navy Deputy Chief of Staff Vice Adm. Sahroni, and TNI
Chief for General Affairs Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago.

Two secessionist movements -- the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in
the country's westernmost province of Aceh and the Free Papua
Movement (OPM) in the easternmost province of Papua -- have been
fighting for independent states from Indonesia.

"If both the government and legislators consider that only
military operations can put an end to the rebel movements, TNI is
ready to carry it out," the four-star Army general said when
asked whether or not the military would intensify its operation
in Nanggroe Aceh Darusalam.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono issued new directives on Monday, urging
troops to intensify their security operations against hard-line
rebels.

Intensified operations are likely to ruin the ongoing peace
talks organized by Switzerland-based non-government organization
the Henry Dunant Center (HDC) between the Indonesian government
and GAM representatives.

"We (the TNI) believe that problems in Aceh and Papua as well
as Maluku are not merely our responsibility. We are concerned
because they continue to call for independence even if the
government has given in to their demands," Endriartono said.

The TNI, which consists of the Army, Navy and Air Force, has
some 300,000 troops at its disposal, with the Army accounting for
two-thirds of that number.

Responding to allegations that military deserters worsened
communal clashes and religious conflicts in the country,
Endriartono said: "I don't deny that some of my troops have
deserted for various reasons, particularly those who are assigned
in sectarian conflict areas. It happens because my troops are
only humans."