ABRI committed to upholding democracy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Feisal
\nTanjung declared last night the military's commitment to
\ndemocratization, saying it never meant to fetter people's
\ninitiatives even as it strove to protect stability.<\/p>\n
In a nationwide televised speech on the eve of ABRI's 52nd
\nanniversary, Feisal pointed out that in the dynamic life of the
\nnation, the military has persevered in its commitment to a
\ndemocracy based on state-ideology Pancasila and the 1945
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
However, "Democratization is not a justification for the
\nemergence of any unhealthy political thoughts and actions,
\n(those) which have no direction, are radical, and which only
\ndisrupt stability," he said.<\/p>\n
Instead, what the nation needs is democratization in the form
\nof further political development, and greater political
\nparticipation on the part of the people.<\/p>\n
These, he said, "should be carried out in ways which are
\nconstitutional, wise and continuous so that the resulting
\ndynamics suit the existing situation in the nation".<\/p>\n
The approach taken by the military to preserve national
\nstability has never been meant "to shackle people's creativity",
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
"Stability is in essence a social convention to surrender some
\nrights, for the sake of basic duties that should be carried out
\nwith others.<\/p>\n
"It's an agreement to open opportunities for ... greater
\ninterest, namely the interest of the nation, while still
\nprotecting the interests of individuals and groups in accordance
\nwith the laws," he said.<\/p>\n
Feisal pointed out the importance of such an approach in
\nrelation to next March's general session of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly -- which will adopt new State Policy
\nGuidelines and elect a president and vice president.<\/p>\n
"Even though the assembly will take place in Jakarta ... I
\norder all ABRI personnel ... to prepare and carry out security
\nmeasures in their own regions," he said.<\/p>\n
In another part of his speech, Feisal pledged that ABRI was
\ntaking a position known by the Javanese expression of tut wuri
\nhandayani, or stepping back and guiding from behind.<\/p>\n
"All efforts of ABRI (are done) in tut wuri handayani for the
\nestablishment of a safe, orderly and dynamic situation," he said.<\/p>\n
Critics have often said ABRI should gradually reduce its
\nsociopolitical role, take a backseat and let civilians assume
\nmore influential, decision-making posts.<\/p>\n
Separately, Indonesia's most senior military figure Gen. (ret)
\nAbdul Haris Nasution again voiced his conviction of the need for
\nABRI's "guiding from behind" role.<\/p>\n
Shortly after he was awarded an honorary five-star general
\nrank on Wednesday, Nasution pointed out how times had changed and
\nhow ABRI members are now required to be more shrewd in
\ninterpreting their superiors' orders.<\/p>\n
Nasution, known affectionately as Pak Nas, was the man who
\ncreated the Armed Forces' dwi fungsi or dual function doctrine
\nwhich allows ABRI a role in politics.<\/p>\n
The former Army chief of staff recently said last year the
\ndoctrine had not been practiced in its original sense. Instead,
\nit was used to justify the development of extra-constitutional
\ninstitutions, he said.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, however, Feisal made clear that ABRI would
\nstick to its dual defense and sociopolitical function in the
\nforeseeable future, as the doctrine was part of the consensus of
\nthe nation to which ABRI had devoted its life.<\/p>\n
"We don't want to overhaul the state's foundation. We don't
\nhave to change our system and abide by foreign systems which are
\ncompletely different from ours," Feisal said in March.<\/p>\n
Civilians<\/p>\n
Another call for greater opportunity for civilians, however,
\nwas made even more recently by military observer Yahya Muhaimin.
\nHe said Thursday that ABRI should include civilians in national
\ndevelopment efforts.<\/p>\n
"Don't just go it alone, but take civilians along in the
\nstruggle to develop the country," said the dean of the
\nYogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University's School of Social and
\nPolitical Sciences.<\/p>\n
He conceded that in certain aspects, ABRI personnel were more
\nadvanced than civilians, such as in leadership, discipline and
\nthe ability to follow superiors' orders.<\/p>\n
However, "civilians should be given the opportunity to improve
\ntheir quality and performance", he said. "I am sure that ABRI
\nwould be willing to give civilians those opportunities."<\/p>\n
The government-run National Institute of Sciences needs to
\nminimize its political role to allow democracy to flourish and
\npolitical reform to take place. The institute said the military
\nshould reduce its political role in stages; from control through
\nparticipation to eventually playing only a backseat role.<\/p>\n
This process would necessitate ABRI easing its grip on
\npolitical institutions and redefining its role as a check-and-
\nbalance force in the political arena. (swe\/imn)<\/p>",
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