M. Munab Islah Ahyani, Bandung – Army chief General Ryamizard Ryacudu says that there is a modern war conspiracy which has and is being carried out by aggressor nations in order to destroy and take control of Indonesia. Stages I and II of this modern war are already underway within the country.

In addition to this, there are numerous parties who are constantly trying to bring about the collapse of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) either from within or from outside of the country. Ryacudu’s warning was made while giving a talk at a “Workshop on National Issues” at the Merdeka Building on Jalan Asia Afrika in Bandung, West Java, on Wednesday May 12.

According to Ryacudu, you can no longer rely on weaponry alone in confronting a modern war, instead it requires that all political, diplomatic, economic, social, cultural and military forces be simultaneously integrated.

In his view, this modern war is conducted in three stages. Firstly using the paradigm of colonialism in order to change the perceptions and way of life of the target state to bring it into line with the system, norms and interests of the aggressor state.

“This stage is conquest without violence. The paradigm of colonialism positions the target state as a subordinate of the aggressor state”, he said.

If this method doesn’t succeed, in stage two the aggressor state will increase the pressure by establishing resistance cells in all areas whether they be in terms of human rights, the law, diplomacy or building clandestine armed cells.

Ryacudu signaled that the first two stages of this modern war are already underway in Indonesia although he was unable to provide details about who the aggressor state was or what interests are at play.

The third stage is a direct invasion of the target state together with offensive diplomatic maneuvers which are able to gain the status of legal intervention. “If this stage of this modern war is completed, and the aggressor comes out the victor, the target state will loose everything”, explained Ryacudu.

Ryacudu therefore warned all components of the nation to be on guard and to resist all forms of “attack” under this kind of modern war. The way to do this is to integrate intellectual competence and emotional shrewdness based on the highest moral values and spiritual strength. (nrl)

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of this article was “Army chief: Modern warfare stages I and II underway in Indonesia”.]