Widodo says President's remark serves a warning

Widodo says President's remark serves a warning

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Admiral
Widodo A.S. said on Sunday the President's statement that the 10
percent of military officers who were not loyal should serve as a
warning for the military to strengthen its unity.

"That's why we are here today, to commemorate the death of
TNI's greatest commander Gen. Soedirman," Widodo said, referring
to the founding father of TNI.

He called on the public to be patient in allowing the process
of reform within TNI, which he said would take a long time.

The military could amend the structural organization quickly,
but changing it would take a much longer time, he said.

He added that TNI could only develop into a professional,
effective and efficient force in a conducive atmosphere.

On the eve of his departure for a foreign trip last week, the
President dismissed rumors of a possible military coup, saying
that he believed that at least 90 percent of TNI members remained
loyal to his government.

Meanwhile in his written speech read at the ceremony,
President Abdurrahman called on the nation to strengthen unity
and their sense of brotherhood.

"We should not accept all information that we receive
uncritically. Much of the information in the current freedom era
can be manipulated," he said in the speech read by Widodo.

Abdurrahman hoped that by commemorating the death of
Soedirman, the military would become a progressive and solid
force. TNI should also be more open to criticism, he said.

Meanwhile, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto dismissed
concerns that the military would try to mount a coup while
President Abdurrahman was traveling overseas, saying that he
would put his job on the line.

"I guarantee there will be no coup. If there's one, I will
relinquish my job," Tyasno was quoted by Antara as saying in
Surabaya on Sunday.

The fact that the President went ahead with his overseas trip
indicated his trust in the military, the general said.

The military could not be bought by a financially strong
power, he said without elaborating.

Political analysts believed the President appeared to have the
upper hand in the ongoing power struggle with some members of the
military.

Last week, he disclosed that he signed a decree requiring four
senior TNI officers to resign from active service because they
had accepted civilian posts in his Cabinet.

The four include Gen. Wiranto, the former TNI chief who is now
coordinating minister for political affairs and security.

TNI officers have repeatedly dismissed the rumors of the coup
as unfounded.

Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono, the first civilian to
hold the post, has also brushed aside the rumors, saying last
week that TNI had neither the ability nor the intention to mount
a coup. (44/jun)