Suharto son-in-law says military 'capable' of creating unrest
AFP Tuesday, May 9 2000
Jakarta - Dissaffected Indonesian armed forcespersonnel, both active and retired, could be behind the political and social unrest in the country, a son-in-law of former president Suharto said Tuesday.
"Yes they are capable. But it's very difficult ... there (has) to be a very sophisticated investigation because we can't just accuse or believe (rumors) without proof," Prabowo Subianto told a press conference here.
Subianto, the former head of the Indonesia's crack Kostrad army strategic reserve command, was answering questions about an accusation by President Abdurrahman Wahid last week that groups, mostly of rogue ex-military personnel, were stirring up violence in the country.
But Subianto described the rumor of dissaffected officers being involved in the unrest as "very sensitive."
Since being abruptly discharged from the army after an inquiry into the kidnapping and deaths of political activists during the last months of Suharto's rule, Subianto has lived mainly in Jordan.
But he told the press conference that his Jordan-based business had now moved back to Jakarta, and he was spending more time in Indonesia.
The press conference was his first since his 1998 discharge.
"Anybody in this country is capable of formenting unrest," he said, adding that not "only the military" has the power and means to do so.
"Whether they are willing or want to, or motivated that's another matter ... but honestly I have to answer ... yes (they are capable)," he said.
To unearth the instigators, who were described by Wahid as "very smart," Subianto said "a professional and clean investigation is required."
"There must not be a vested interest, we also must not dismiss the possibility that foreign intelligence also took part in this," he added.
"I'm saying this is a very difficult matter, (and) this is the job of the intelligence service. We must have a professional and clean intelligence service to investigate this," he said, citing the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Singapore's Special Branch as examples.
Asked if the Wahid government's current effort to reduce the military's political role could motivate the rogue elements to incite violence, he replied: "If it's true then they are not patriots."
"I believe that a soldier must uphold the (interest) of the country. Frankly my generation and generations before me are the ones who would like to see the TNI out of politics," he said.
Prabowo also said the TNI's territorial doctrine -- which provides for military posts down to the sub-district level and which is scheduled to be scrapped gradually over the next few years -- was still "relevant."
"This doctrine is still relevant because it is the doctrine of an underdeveloped country and it is the weapon to face foreign enemies."
"Besides, in the next 20 or 30 years, I'm certain that our economy will not be sufficiently (developed) to buy sophisticated weapons such as submarines and jet fighters," he said.
AFP Tuesday, May 9 2000
Jakarta - Dissaffected Indonesian armed forcespersonnel, both active and retired, could be behind the political and social unrest in the country, a son-in-law of former president Suharto said Tuesday.
"Yes they are capable. But it's very difficult ... there (has) to be a very sophisticated investigation because we can't just accuse or believe (rumors) without proof," Prabowo Subianto told a press conference here.
Subianto, the former head of the Indonesia's crack Kostrad army strategic reserve command, was answering questions about an accusation by President Abdurrahman Wahid last week that groups, mostly of rogue ex-military personnel, were stirring up violence in the country.
But Subianto described the rumor of dissaffected officers being involved in the unrest as "very sensitive."
Since being abruptly discharged from the army after an inquiry into the kidnapping and deaths of political activists during the last months of Suharto's rule, Subianto has lived mainly in Jordan.
But he told the press conference that his Jordan-based business had now moved back to Jakarta, and he was spending more time in Indonesia.
The press conference was his first since his 1998 discharge.
"Anybody in this country is capable of formenting unrest," he said, adding that not "only the military" has the power and means to do so.
"Whether they are willing or want to, or motivated that's another matter ... but honestly I have to answer ... yes (they are capable)," he said.
To unearth the instigators, who were described by Wahid as "very smart," Subianto said "a professional and clean investigation is required."
"There must not be a vested interest, we also must not dismiss the possibility that foreign intelligence also took part in this," he added.
"I'm saying this is a very difficult matter, (and) this is the job of the intelligence service. We must have a professional and clean intelligence service to investigate this," he said, citing the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Singapore's Special Branch as examples.
Asked if the Wahid government's current effort to reduce the military's political role could motivate the rogue elements to incite violence, he replied: "If it's true then they are not patriots."
"I believe that a soldier must uphold the (interest) of the country. Frankly my generation and generations before me are the ones who would like to see the TNI out of politics," he said.
Prabowo also said the TNI's territorial doctrine -- which provides for military posts down to the sub-district level and which is scheduled to be scrapped gradually over the next few years -- was still "relevant."
"This doctrine is still relevant because it is the doctrine of an underdeveloped country and it is the weapon to face foreign enemies."
"Besides, in the next 20 or 30 years, I'm certain that our economy will not be sufficiently (developed) to buy sophisticated weapons such as submarines and jet fighters," he said.
