TNI vows to get tough on separatists

BANDUNG (JP): Despite growing opposition to repressive military measures, the Indonesian Military (TNI) kept up its tough talk against separatist threats on Friday by warning it would not tolerate actions which could undermine the state's integrity.

With the Dec. 4 anniversary of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) approaching, TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sudrajat said the military would remain vigilant against activities which threatened the state.

"Intelligence reports show that the plan to tear down the national red-and-white flag on GAM's anniversary on Dec. 4 is serious. Therefore, TNI will not allow any such move to continue," Sudrajat told journalists here.

"The choice is either TNI or GAM ... who will die if the national red-and-white flag is torn down in Aceh.

"So don't even try. Whoever they are, TNI is ready to face them."

Sudrajat was speaking after the installment of Maj. Gen. Endriartono as chief of TNI's School of Command, replacing Lt. Gen. Agus Widjaja who was promoted to head TNI's Territorial Affairs.

TNI Chief Adm. Widodo A.S. presided over the ceremony.

Widodo declined to elaborate on the situation in Aceh, saying only that the military was supporting a dialog of reconciliation in the province.

In his address during the ceremony, Widodo remarked that several parties unintentionally sparked separatist tendencies. He did not name the parties.

United

Meanwhile in Yogyakarta, residents, local leaders, intellectuals and activists grouped in the Islamic People's Solidarity for Yogyakarta urged the Acehnese to remain part of Indonesia and called for justice and law enforcement to be upheld in the restive province.

"It will be a big loss to all Muslims if Aceh separates," the group said on Friday in a statement read by Indonesian Islamic University rector Zaini Dahlan.

The statement was signed by at least 21 Islamic organizations and influential pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) in Yogyakarta.

In Banda Aceh, police arrested seven men suspected in the attack on an officer at a gas station in Reuleut in Aceh's Bireun regency on Thursday.

A lawyer for the men said his clients were wrongfully accused due to the emotional outburst of several policemen following the attack on their colleague.

"The group was beset by angry police officers in a car workshop near Reuleut gas station, following the attack on Sgt. R. Silalahi by two armed civilians," Mohammad Ali Achmad said.

"Silalahi survived the attack. Later a group of policemen went back to find the attackers."

The suspects remained detained at Jeumpa Police Station on Friday afternoon.(23/43/50/edt)