January 20, 2012, Jakarta: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday asked military officers to better understand international laws, and take a peaceful solution as their first choice in resolving conflict with other countries. "Please carry out standard of operation well. The procedure is well accepted in any country," President Yudhoyono said at the Police Academy here.
The president made the statement after the military was criticized for its handling of conflicts and problems in some remote areas in the vast archipelago country, such as Papua.
While rejected the criticism, Yudhoyono asked the military to safeguard the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Indonesia peacefully settled the three-decade insurgency and integrated the rebels into the local community in the northern tip of Sumatra island of Aceh in August 2007 thanks to the assistance of international community.
However, the separatist free Papua movement, known as OPM ( Organisasi Papua Merdeka), still poses a threat to the government as the group has often targeted civilians, workers and facility of U.S. mining giant PT Freeport in Papua that killed dozens of people.
On the level of ASEAN, President Yudhoyono asked the military officer to comply with the Treaty and Committee Cooperation that put dialogue on priority.
"The point is that should there be a conflict in the region we are obligated to settle it peacefully. That is the main idea of ASEAN. And it has been supported by other ASEAN member countries and other countries," said Yudhoyono.
Nevertheless, the president said that it did not mean that the military must give up military means.
Source: Xinhua
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