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Wiranto: Stop all this hounding and defamation

Source
Suara Pembaruan - June 3, 1998 (Summary by Tapol)

The commander-in-chief of the armed forces (ABRI), General Wiranto , has issued a warning that people who fail to restrain themselves in their calls for reform will have to confront the armed forces.

Reading from a prepared statement of his own, following a cabinet meeting, Wiranto said that while he did not want to minimise the importance of reform, the top priority must be given to overcoming the crisis. This means overcoming the monetary and economic crisis, solving unemployment and creating a calm atmosphere so as to be able to fulfil the basic needs of the people.

He said that the political stance of ABRI was to support the Reform Cabinet of Habibie, as he had said on 21 May (the day of Suharto's resignation).

He said that the wave of calls for reform were now pushing for an overhaul of anything and everything, and there are even signs that reform is being used to do things that deviate from the spirit of reform.

ABRI wants to speed up the reform process but this should be kept within bounds. Reform must not be allowed to destroy the Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution which is the precondition for national unity.

"ABRI therefore warns everyone at the centre and in the regions to keep reform on the right track," Wiranto said.

He went on to praise the former president, Suharto, for showing wisdom at a critical time and offering his resignation in a way that avoided further turmoil.

He had not resorted to the use of force to cling on to power, thereby helping to safeguard national unity.

While recognising that he had shortcomings, as he himself had repeatedly admitted, as a Pancasilaist, the highly respected former president had contributed hugely to the advancement of the life of the nation and he should be treated correctly, in moral as well as constitutional terms.

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