TROOPS AND TANKS PARADING; PRESIDENT SUHARTO ARRIVING, REVIEWING TROOPS, DECORATING OFFICERS AND SPEAKING; MRS. SUHARTO; GENERAL PAGGABABEAN; ADM. MULJADI; GEN. SUMITRO; GEN. HUGENG; ADM. NURJADIN; OTHER OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS, INCLUDING GIRLS; FOREIGN MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES.




Initials LD/VS/JF/MH



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Background: AS THE INDONESIAN ARMED FORCES CELEBRATED THEIR 24TH ANNIVERSARY WITH PARADES AND DEMONSTRATIONS ON SUNDAY (OCTOBER 5), PRESIDENT SUHARTO ANNOUNCED A REORGANISATION OF THE SERVICES IN WHICH THE POSTS OF COMMANDERS-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMY, NAVY AND AIR FORCE WERE ABOLISHED, WHILE OTHER COMMANDERS WOULD NO LONGER BE ABLE TO MOVE TROOPS FROM ONE AREA TO ANOTHER UNLESS ORDERED BY THE DEFENCE MINISTRY - HEADED BY PRESIDENT SUHARTO HIMSELF. THIS IS SEEN BY OBSERVERS AS A TIGHTENING OF THE PRESIDENT'S GRIP ON THE ARMED FORCES TO PREVENT ANY STRENGTHENING OF POWER AMONG MILITARY CHIEFS.

THE EX-COMMANDERS-IN-CHIEF WERE IMMEDIATELY REAPPOINTED CHIEFS OF STAFF UNDER PRESIDENT SUHARTO AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF -- HE IS EXPECTED TO APPOINT A STRONG GENERAL AS HIS DEPUTY IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

THE MEN IMMEDIATELY AFFECTED ARE GENERAL PANGGABEAN (ARMY), ADMIRAL MULJADI (NAVY) AND AIR MARSHAL RUSMIN NURJADIN (AIR FORCE) - THEY WERE ALL PROMINENTLY PRESENT AT SUNDAY'S PARADE ALONG WITH CHIEF OF STAFF FOR DEFENCE AND SECURITY LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SUMITRO AND POLICE CHIEF HUGENG.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CHANGES WAS MADE BY LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SUMITRO JUST BEFORE THE AFTERNOON PARADES. HE SAID THAT THE MOVE HAD BEEN MADE TO ENSURE STABILITY IN THE COUNTRY. THIS - ALONG WITH PRESIDENT SUHARTO'S OWN DESCRIPTION OF "INTER-RIVALRIES" AMONG THE MILITARY LEADERS - IMMEDIATELY TOUCHED OFF SPECULATION THAT THEY MIGHT BE REFERRING TO A POSSIBLE COMMUNIST-LED COUP.