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)