ABRI marches toward 21st century<\/p>\n
The challenges ahead As Indonesia marks its Armed Forces Day
\nin October, John B. Haseman and Rukmantoro Hadi Sumukti look at
\nrecent developments and the challenges ahead.<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE: Indonesia is frequently looked at as a powerful
\ntrend-setter for the Southeast Asia region. Similarly, as the
\nmost powerful single element of Indonesian society, Indonesia's
\nmilitary establishment is subject to scrutiny because, arguably,
\na healthy and strong armed forces establishment (known by its
\nIndonesian language acronym, ABRI) is essential to a healthy and
\nstrong Indonesia. Where, then, is ABRI going as the millennium
\napproaches? And what are the major challenges facing ABRI as it
\nhelps guide this giant nation into the 21st century?<\/p>\n
ABRI approaches the 21st century with strong leadership, an
\nemphasis on improved professionalism, and a spirit of confidence.
\nAbove all else, ABRI is firmly committed to the national defense
\nand the maintenance of domestic stability. The highest priority
\nis devoted to prevention of unrest in what is called sara: an
\nIndonesian language acronym for ethnic, religious and social
\nconflict.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is an inherently centrifugal country. It is one of
\nthe world's most socially and ethnically diverse nations: a
\ncountry of hundreds of ethnic groups, languages and social
\nsystems that is geographically fragmented in an archipelago of
\nmore than 17,000 islands. Its crowded population can be violent
\nand unpredictable: even minor traffic accidents quickly escalate
\ninto frightful violence if just the right spark is present. In
\nspite of these problems, the country is held together by popular
\nnationalism, an excellent national communications grid, the
\nnational language - and by the firm discipline of ABRI.<\/p>\n
ABRI is well-led by officers of moderate outlook, their
\ntraining influenced by international education and experience
\noverseas. Its senior chain of command is well-trained and
\nsophisticated. ABRI will keep a firm hand on security and
\nstability. The great majority of the country's population
\nsupports this stance. Indonesia's people value harmony,
\nstability, consensus, and domestic tranquility. At the same time
\nthe gap between rich and poor is widening; the rising
\nexpectations of the rural and urban poor as well as the expanding
\nmiddle class demand social and political reforms.<\/p>\n
Challenges<\/p>\n
ABRI's major challenges towards the 21st century:<\/p>\n
* Challenge No 1: To continue to develop ABRI into a well-
\ntrained and professional armed force. For many years ABRI was an
\ninward-looking institution that focused largely on political
\nideology and internal affairs. That changed in the early 1990s,
\nwhen General Tanjung came to the ABRI leadership and brought with
\nhim a new generation of senior officers, largely from the
\nMilitary Academy class of 1965.<\/p>\n
For almost a decade now, Indonesian military leaders have
\nstressed improvement in professional military capabilities. The
\nsignificant increase in bilateral military-to-military programs
\nwith the United States and Australia, for example, demonstrates a
\nkeen desire to work with and learn from other armed forces.
\nThrough this process ABRI has gained confidence in its own
\nabilities and discovered that different countries can cooperate
\nin defense and security affairs.<\/p>\n
Unlike the near-isolationist military posture of the 1980s,
\nsince 1991 ABRI has significantly expanded the number and
\nsophistication of its military-to-military contacts overseas.
\nABRI leaders as well as the participating foreign militaries laud
\nthe value of the professional exchanges of these expanded
\nmilitary-to-military contacts. The steady improvement in ABRI's
\nprofessionalism seems assured. ABRI has just completed a major
\ntransition in its leadership ranks. The Class of 1965, which
\nsteered the armed forces through most of the 1990s, has retired.
\nThe new rising leaders come from the Military Academy classes of
\n1970 through 1975. They will likely continue a trend toward
\nprofessionalism, and support for continued internationalism in
\ntraining and foreign relations.<\/p>\n
* Challenge No 2: Manage change in ABRI's social-political
\nrole. The degree of military involvement in politics differs from
\ncountry to country. ABRI has played a major role in the
\nIndonesian political system since independence. But current
\nleaders favor gradual change from the current extensive political
\ndominance of ABRI to a more traditional stance. While ABRI will
\nstill be the most powerful group in Indonesian society, it will
\nincreasingly exercise that power from the background.<\/p>\n
Considerable debate on the future of ABRI's "Dual Function"
\nmission tends to obscure the basic fact that Dwifungsi will
\ncontinue to be a significant part of ABRI's assigned duties. It
\nis the manner of implementation of the concept that will continue
\nto change, because of inevitable social, political, and economic
\npressures. Significantly, however, Indonesia's most recent
\nDefense White Paper, issued in May of this year, continues to
\nstress the importance of dwifungsi to ABRI and to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
* Challenge No 3: Maintain domestic stability during a period
\nof significant political change. Indonesian authorities
\ncategorize the threats to the country's national security in two
\nways: the internal threat and the external threat. They are on
\nrecord that the most likely threat to the country is internal in
\norigin. Within that category there are also two extremes: the
\n"rightist threat" (Islamic extremists) and the "leftist threat"
\n(communism).<\/p>\n
It is impossible to over-emphasis the importance that the
\narmed forces - as an institution and as individual members of the
\ninstitution - ascribes to internal security. An equally important
\nrequirement is that ABRI manage domestic stability in a moderate
\nmanner which can withstand domestic and international criticism.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Parliament will meet next March and, by every
\nindication, will again select Soeharto to the presidency. Most
\nobservers believe the President will accept. A great deal of
\nspeculation attends the potential choice of Vice President, who
\nmany believe will be the President's choice eventually to succeed
\nhim.<\/p>\n
The prospect for the eventual end of the Soeharto era when that
\nsuccession plays out, and apprehension over the succession itself
\nand the prospects for national leadership in the post-Soeharto
\nera, are natural reasons for considerable national tension. It is
\nessential for national stability and continuity that ABRI manage
\nwell the political transition.<\/p>\n
* Challenge No 4: Operate successfully in an environment of
\nincreased domestic and international scrutiny of human rights
\nissues. It is ironic that while the ABRI leadership wants to do
\nthe right thing to reduce its political role and to acknowledge
\nits obligations to respect human rights, at the same time it is
\nvexed and angered by constant foreign criticism. The current ABRI
\nleadership is far more aware of the new international environment
\nin which it must conduct itself. ABRI has benefited from several
\nyears of more enlightened leadership and training. Officer
\neducation courses now include training in human rights issues and
\nthe handling of unruly crowds. Training in riot control
\ntechniques is given to army and police units on a regular basis.
\nPromising junior officers trained overseas in years past are now
\nrising to the major command and leadership billets in ABRI,
\nbringing with them a greater appreciation for human rights
\nissues, of foreign sensitivities, and the need for greater
\nrestraint in dealing with their volatile populace.<\/p>\n
ABRI's stance for the foreseeable future seems to be one of
\nremaining engaged with the U.S. to the extent possible, at the same
\ntime being far less tolerant of outside criticism of Indonesia's
\ndomestic policies.<\/p>\n
Dr. John B Haseman is a retired U.S. Army Colonel and a former
\nDefense Attache to Indonesia. He lectures frequently on
\nIndonesian affairs at American and Australian universities.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/abri-marches-toward-21st-century-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}