ABRI asked to redefine its job description<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior military figure suggested that the
\nIndonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) redefine the roles and duties of
\nits leaders in order to avoid overlapping authorities.<\/p>\n
Former army chief of staff Gen. (ret) Rudini cited the armed
\nforces chief of sociopolitical affairs and the armed forces chief
\nof general affairs as two key positions that often overlapped.
\nThe posts are currently held by Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid and Lt.
\nGen. Tarub.<\/p>\n
According to a 1982 law on Armed Forces, the first post is
\ndedicated to help the ABRI chief in social and political roles,
\nwhereas the second post is for the development of personnel.<\/p>\n
In practice, however, "there are overlapping authorities
\nbetween the two positions," according to Rudini. ABRI, he argued,
\nneeds to redefine the job description of its leaders and their
\ncommand line.<\/p>\n
As yet, "there's no clear definition what constitutes the
\nduties of key Armed Forces officials," said the former home
\naffairs minister.<\/p>\n
"ABRI needs to do this if it wishes to meet the increasing
\ndemand for professionalism and future challenges," Rudini said
\nafter launching his research institute, the Institute for
\nStrategic Studies of Indonesia (LPSI), onto the internet on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
He pointed out how soldiers often misunderstand their
\nsuperiors' instructions due to poor coordination among personnel
\nin the military. He cited troops' indiscriminate action against
\ncommunity groups seeking to voice something which is against
\ngovernment policy, as an example.<\/p>\n
He said, for instance, it's no longer enough for troops to
\nquell demonstrations the way they did in the past. "Now, they
\nhave to be armed with reasonable arguments (as to why they are
\nquelling opposition). They must be professional," he said.<\/p>\n
Misunderstanding or poor coordination, however, are not signs
\nof serious conflict within the elite layer of the Armed Forces,
\nhowever.<\/p>\n
"You can't say that people are in conflict only because they
\ngive different statements on certain issues," Rudini argued.<\/p>\n
He did not give an example, but over the past weeks, there has
\nbeen speculation that elements in the Armed Forces are in
\nconflict over ABRI's stance on the next vice presidency.<\/p>\n
After several leading figures, including Minister of Defense
\nand Security Gen. (ret) Edi Sudradjat, gave different statements
\nas to whether ABRI will name a vice presidential candidate of its
\nown, Armed Forces Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Syarwan Hamid
\nthen moved to contain the controversy by saying that the official
\nstance would be given only by him or ABRI Chief Gen. Feisal
\nTanjung.<\/p>\n
Only recently, Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono said that
\nprevious statements about the issue were a procedural mistake.<\/p>\n
He said on Monday that naming names for vice presidential
\ncandidates was "taboo, unconstitutional and out of procedural
\nline." "It won't happen again," he said in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
All eligible Indonesians will cast their votes in the May 29
\ngeneral elections to elect members of the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR).<\/p>\n
Together with the appointed 500-member body of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR), the 500-member DPR will meet in
\nMarch next year to elect a president and vice president and to
\nestablish its five-year state guidelines. (imn\/swe)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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