"Step up your alertness, particularly to assist police and regional governments in safeguarding the government`s policy to reduce the fuel subsidy," he said here on Monday.
He said the government had kept trying to find a solution to the rising fuel subsidy by adjusting domestic fuel prices to match global prices to reduce the burden on the state budget.
"Take steps to use state budget funds, fuel and electrical power as efficiently as possible; prevent any effort to smuggle out and hoard fuel; and help ensure the smooth distribution of fuel," Suhartono said.
The government plans to raise the price of subsidized fuel by Rp1,500 for a new price of Rp 6,000 per liter next month in response to spiraling global crude prices.
The TNI chief further reminded military leaders and ranking officers of the need to always communicate to members of their respective units the reasons for performing their assigned duties.
He also asked members of the military to forge close cooperation among military forces as well as cooperate with national police in responding to developments, particularly those endangering the nation`s unity and cohesion.
"We hope all reactions are temporary in nature and that the situation will return to normal in a relatively short time because the policy [to raise fuel prices] is the government`s most rational step to ensure the continuity of national development," Suhartono said.
(T.R018/Uu.S012/KR-BSR/INE/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
