Wiranto warns of groups seeking radical reform

JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto charged yesterday there were groups in Indonesian society seeking to engineer radical political and economic reform.

"Their intermediate target is to disrupt the upcoming General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)," said Wiranto when addressing a ceremony held to mark the transfer of duty of Army chief of staff from himself to Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo.

Wiranto was installed as new Armed Forces (ABRI) chief, replacing Gen. Feisal Tanjung, last week.

"Their main target is to have total political and economic reform in the country," he said. He failed to identify the groups.

Later, when he addressed the press, he described his intention to take an unequivocal stance against any attempts to disrupt the five-yearly political event. "There will be no bargaining (regarding the stance) in order to make the event a success," he said.

"The MPR's General Session is the key to the country's development process," he said. "A failed MPR session will cause problems for development programs."

He said he had instructed all soldiers to take firm action against any unconstitutional attempts to disrupt the event.

The 1,000-member MPR will convene from March 1 through March 11 to elect a president and vice president and to endorse the 1998/2003 State Policy Guidelines.

Wiranto also commented on some retired generals who have become critical of the Armed Forces. He said they were a "common" phenomenon.

"I believe that there are also some journalists, who are unfortunately sick, whose opinions and ideas are different from the others'," he said.

However, he asserted that the Armed Forces in general, including the retired officers, was as solid as ever.

The transfer ceremony was attended by several former Army chiefs of staff. They were Gen. (ret) Abdul Haris Nasution, Gen. (ret) Makmun Murod, Gen. (ret) Poniman, Gen. (ret) Wismoyo Arismunandar, Gen. (ret) R. Hartono.

Also present were defense attaches from friendly countries.

Wiranto also confirmed yesterday that the Armed Forces would not waver in its support for civilian B.J. Habibie as the next vice president.

He said ABRI would always be consistent in its stance.

"A decision of ABRI today will remain the same tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and hereafter," he said. "You should not question the Armed Forces' stance on Habibie's nomination anymore."

The Armed Forces headquarters came out in support of Habibie's vice presidency nomination, when it announced last Wednesday that the state minister of research and technology was its sole candidate.

Then ABRI chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung said Habibie was the appropriate figure to assist Haji Muhammad Soeharto with his state duties, including handling state problems and responding to challenges in the next five years.

The outgoing ABRI chief also reaffirmed the Armed Forces' support for the renomination of Soeharto.

The Armed Forces' announcement was made after the other four MPR factions -- Golkar, the United Development Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party and the regional representatives -- had declared their candidates. (imn)