SUHARTO IN JEEP REVIEWS TROOPS; HE PINS AWARD ON BANNER; MAJ. GEN MACHMUD HANDS OVER BANNER TO BEARER; DIPLOMATS AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS SEATED; TROOPS MARCH PAST.




Initials RM/V/BHH/LAD



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Background: PRESIDENT SUHARTO OF INDONESIA PRESENTED THE HIGHEST PRESIDENTIAL BANNER OF HONOUR TO THE DJAKARTA MILITARY COMMAND ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 19TH ANNIVERSARY IN DJAKARTA ON TUESDAY. THE PRESENTATION TOOK PLACE AT A PARADE IN DJAKARTA'S SPORTS COMPLEX.

ALSO PRESENT FOR THE CEREMONY WERE MAJOR GENERAL AMIR MACHMUD, LEADER OF THE DJAKARTA MILITARY COMMAND, GOVERNMENT LEADERS AND DIPLOMATS.

IT WAS THE THIRD SUCH BANNER TO BE AWARDED IN ONE MONTH. THE OTHER TWO UNITS TO RECEIVE IT WERE THE MILITARY COMMANDS OF CENTRAL AND EAST JAVA.

IN HIS SPEECH, PRESIDENT SUHARTO SAID THE AWARD WAS TO MARK THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE COMMAND TOWARDS THE ELIMINATION OF COMMUNISTS AND ITS WORK IN PROMOTING NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. HE ALSO URGED THE COMMAND TO BE READY TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST ANY GROUP WHICH MIGHT DESTROY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STABILITY IN INDONESIA.

HOWEVER, THE PRESIDENT REMINDED THE ARMED FORCES THAT THEY WERE BEING CRITICISED BY SOCIETY IN GENERAL FOR CORRUPTION AMONG SOME OF ITS MEMBERS.