ABRI never blinded by power, says Wiranto<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): Minister of Defense\/Armed Forces (ABRI)
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto asserted here on Tuesday the military had
\nnever and would never be blinded by power.<\/p>\n
He stated that the military had never thought of taking
\ncontrol of the country during the leadership crisis in May,
\nsaying ABRI remained committed to safeguarding a constitutional
\nand peaceful leadership succession.<\/p>\n
"It's evident that ABRI has its own character and is not
\neasily swayed by pressure, especially during the state leadership
\nsuccession last May," he said when opening a seminar on the Armed
\nForces role in the 21st century.<\/p>\n
The three-day seminar is being held at the Armed Forces Staff
\nand Command School.<\/p>\n
Wiranto spoke of complex challenges facing the military in the
\n21st century, especially concerning democratization, human rights
\nand the environment -- all major themes being touted by many of
\nthe country's new political parties.<\/p>\n
"Such issues were launched not only by domestic political
\ngroups, but also by independent and internationally affiliated
\nnon-governmental organizations (NGOs)," he said, adding that some
\nof the issues were being used by radical groups to revive "old
\nideologies".<\/p>\n
Present at the opening ceremony were Army Chief Gen. Subagyo
\nHadisiswoyo, Air Force Chief Vice Marshall Hanafie Asnan,
\nNational Police Chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi and Armed Forces Chief
\nof Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.<\/p>\n
Wiranto said ABRI was ready to redefine its dual function
\ndoctrine -- which gives it both security and sociopolitical roles
\n-- to prepare itself for the challenges that lay ahead.<\/p>\n
"ABRI is developing a new paradigm in that it does not always
\nhave to be at the forefront of the nation's political affairs and
\nis ready to share its political role with non-ABRI partners," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Seminar participants indicated strong support for a commitment
\nto reform and a redefinition of ABRI's sociopolitical role.<\/p>\n
"ABRI's dual function is quite an ideal concept. Yet, there
\nhave been some distortions in its implementation," said Bilveer
\nSingh of the National University of Singapore. "ABRI should,
\ntherefore, make necessary changes in the concept."<\/p>\n
Y.B. Mangunwijaya, a seminar participant, suggested that ABRI
\nredefine the concept.<\/p>\n
"ABRI members have been given the mandate to master the use of
\nweapons and to be professional.<\/p>\n
"Yet, the decision on when, where and how to use the weapons
\nmust be made by civilians," he said.<\/p>\n
The new chief of the State Intelligence Coordinating Agency
\n(Bakin), Lt. Gen. (ret) Zaini Azhar Maulani, said ABRI must be
\nable to support the country's democratization efforts.<\/p>\n
A political observer of the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity, Riswandha Imawan, said ABRI should have the political
\nwill to provide the space for democratization. For instance, the
\nmilitary should allow university students greater opportunities
\nto engage in politics on campus.<\/p>\n
The seminar, designed to help formulate the Armed Forces' role
\nin the 21st century, was attended by 200 participants, including
\nthe Armed Forces' top brass, retired generals, public and
\nreligious figures, NGO activists and academicians.<\/p>\n
The seminar features former National Police chief Gen. (ret)
\nAwaloeddin Djamin, former National Resilience Institute
\n(Lemhannas) governor Lt. Gen. (ret) Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo,
\nformer Armed Forces chief of sociopolitical affairs Lt. Gen.
\n(ret) Harsudiyono Hartas, former ambassador to the United States
\nLt. Gen. (ret) Hasnan Habib, scholar Nurcholish Madjid and
\nmilitary observer Salim Said.<\/p>\n
On a separate occasion, Wiranto confirmed that Maj. Gen. Johny
\nL. Lumintang would fill the post of commandant-general of the
\nArmed Forces Staff and Command School, which has been vacant
\nsince early last month when its former head, Lt. Gen. (ret)
\nPrabowo Subianto, was removed in connection with an ABRI
\ninvestigation into the abduction of activists.<\/p>\n
Lumintang had also replaced Prabowo as commander of the Army's
\nStrategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) following the resignation of
\nformer president Soeharto, though he held the post for only 18
\nhours before it was transferred to Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago.<\/p>\n
Wiranto said that Lumintang's shift was part of a massive
\nreshuffling of top personnel in the Armed Forces, involving more
\nthan 50 high-ranking officers.<\/p>\n
Armed Forces spokesman, Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif, said the
\nmove would also reassign Vice Marshall Achmad Sutjipto, now the
\ncommandant-general of the Armed Forces Academy, as the new deputy
\nto the Navy chief; Maj. Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, now chief of
\nthe Presidential Security Guard, to fill in the post vacated by
\nLumintang; and Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, former Jakarta
\nmilitary commander, as an advisor for political and security
\naffairs to the Armed Forces commander.<\/p>\n
Sjafrie will replace Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah, who will
\nbecome the new commander of the Army Staff and Command School.
\n(43\/imn)<\/p>",
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