---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- ANTARA, July 24 1999 Aceh: Wiranto Denies Number of Troops Larger Than When Province Was Mily Operations Zone Surabaya, E-Java, Jul 23 (ANTARA)- Defence and Security Minister concurently National Defence Forces (TNI) Commander General Wiranto here Friday categorically denied reports that the number of riot troops now stationed in Aceh surpasses that of Militarymen when the province was a "Military Operations Zone" (DOM). "It is not true. During the DOM, the troops came from all forces. Now, they are only policemen. What is more, while during the DOM it was a military operation, now it is only an operation to maintain security and order. In the past, it was commanded by a military man, now it is led by a policeman," Wiranto said here Friday. Wiranto made the statement after presiding over the hand-over ceremony of the post of Navy Chief of Staff from Admiral Widodo AS to Vice Admiral Achmad Sutjipto. During an impromptu meeting with the press, Wiranto issued a call on all parties concerned to refrain from making underfounded statements. "No need to make up things. If there is something that needs explaining, just ask the TNI or the Police. It is not in the character of the TNI to provoke things," Wiranto said. The four-star general called on the people from subscribing to unfounded views which would only confuse them. Commenting about the deployment of marines in Aceh, Wiranto said that it was meant to help prevent the smuggling of weapons into the province. According to Wiranto, many weapons had been smuggled into Aceh by sea. "the marines have the specialty to oversee security in coastal areas. There is no need to be suspicious. Think positively," Wiranto said. Meanwhile, TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif said demands for the withdrawal of anti-riot troops from Aceh on the pretext that they were adding to the burden of the people, were the result of propaganda by the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). The rebel movement had been distorting the facts, he said. "The people there expect security to be restored soon. It is no secret that the rebel group has been using arms and intimidation. Now they have launched a propaganda campaign in which they completely distort the facts," Syamsul said. According to the Two-star general, there were maneuvers to create the impression that the riot troops had been provoking unrest, which was not true. He stressed that the military and the police in Aceh were on a mission to maintain public security. Syamsul said the GAM rebels were fighting the riot troops with smuggled weapons. "But we still don't know the origin of the smuggled weapons," he said. (U.SBY-06/SBY-01/INT-NS/17:30/INT-AJM-21:15/fn01/21:46/TB06) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 28 Jul 1999 jam 07:47:24 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
