ABRI bill before house<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Just two months after the idea was broached by
\nPresident Soeharto, the government has submitted a bill to the
\nHouse of Representatives proposing to reduce the number of
\nmilitary seats in the House.<\/p>\n
Disclosing the government proposal in a new working session of
\nthe House (DPR) yesterday, Speaker Wahono promised to give the
\nbill a speedy reading in order to resolve the matter swiftly.<\/p>\n
He added that the House's meeting schedule would be adjusted
\naccordingly.<\/p>\n
Welcoming the initiative, Wahono stressed that democracy does
\nnot solely depend on the formal political order and structure,
\nbut more on the spirit and wishes of the people.<\/p>\n
"Democracy progresses in accordance with changes in society's
\nvalues which in turn will evolve into a political culture that is
\nboth democratic and Pancasila," he said referring to the state
\nideology. "With this in mind, we welcome the initiative to cut
\nthe size of the Armed Forces (ABRI) faction in the House from 100
\nto 75."<\/p>\n
Soeharto in March ordered the Indonesian Institute of Sciences
\n(LIPI) to look for ways to improve the electoral system,
\nincluding the military's political role.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces has already announced that it is prepared to
\nsee its representation in the House slashed by the next general
\nelections in 1997. It was the Armed Forces who suggested the cut
\nfrom 100 to 75.<\/p>\n
The government bill proposes reviewing article 10 of the 1985
\nLaw on the Structures and Composition of the House of
\nRepresentatives. The clause states that 400 of the House's seats
\nshould be contested at the general elections between the three
\npolitical groups and the other 100 be allocated to the Armed
\nForces, whose members do not vote.<\/p>\n
Wahono said the House supports the new bill not because it
\nconsiders ABRI's representation in the House or other state
\ninstitutions to be undemocratic or because of foreign pressures.<\/p>\n
"Some foreign parties might view the military as an
\nundemocratic force, but for Indonesia, the Armed Forces has
\nproven itself as a dynamizer, inspirer, and motivator for the
\ngrowth and development of Pancasila Democracy.<\/p>\n
"I think the question of whether or not it is democratic for
\nsomeone from the Armed Forces to serve in the House of
\nRepresentatives or other state institutions is irrelevant."<\/p>\n
"Democracy is not determined by the uniform or rank a person
\nwears. There is ample evidence to show that some ABRI members are
\nmore democratic than non-military people."<\/p>\n
Wahono also appealed to the public at large not to encourage
\nthe development of a polemic pitting the Armed Forces against
\ncivilians. "We'd like to remind you once again that this would be
\nvery dangerous to the unity and cohesion of the nation."
\n(emb\/rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/abri-bill-before-house-1447893297",
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