'ABRI not likely to be restructured soon'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An Australian observer has expressed doubt that
\nthe Indonesian military could within a year be restructured as
\nforces designed only for external security, as chief intelligence
\nofficer Lt. Gen. (ret) Z.A. Maulani claimed was being planned.<\/p>\n
Antara quoted Marcus Mietzner of the Australian National
\nUniversity as saying here Wednesday that he was confident that
\nthe Armed Forces (ABRI), in view of its current position, would
\nnot undertake such a radical change.<\/p>\n
Mietzner, a doctorate candidate studying the relations between
\nthe military and the Muslim community, said, \"Political reality
\nforbids ABRI from radically withdrawing from its political
\ninvolvement.\"<\/p>\n
\"ABRI is still very strong politically, while the civilians
\nare not in the position to bargain,\" he said. Moreover, he
\ninsisted, \"The leadership has implied the military would
\nundertake a gradual change and reform its institutions.\"<\/p>\n
Chief of the State Intelligence Coordinating Board (Bakin)
\nMaulani made mention on Monday in Aceh of a plan to transform
\nABRI into APRI, which is an acronym for forces trained for war.
\nBy then, internal security affairs would be police affairs, while
\nthe military would only protect the nation from external threats.<\/p>\n
He also spoke of the need for overall change affecting not
\nonly the institutional organization but also the education system
\nof the armed forces, its doctrines, training regime and salaries.<\/p>\n
The position of the territorial affairs assistant, currently
\nheld by Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, for instance, would be
\nabolished, Maulani revealed.<\/p>\n
Maulani argued that the bottom line of the proposed changes
\nwas to limit the power given to high ranking officers. \"The
\ngreater the power, the greater the effects of corruption,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He spoke of how the power of the government and military needs
\nto be controlled through a check and balance mechanism so as to
\navoid a repetition of past atrocities.<\/p>\n
Mietzner said the proposal, however, was much too radical for
\nABRI as it would need to be absolutely ready and willing to pull
\nout of politics.<\/p>\n
\"The impact of such change, if there were any, would be
\ntremendous, namely the abolition of institutions such as regional
\nmilitary commands... something which is obviously very
\ndifficult,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Even if Maulani's projection materialized, he said, it would
\ntake the Armed Forces at least five years to effect.<\/p>\n
Susilo separately said the military would treat Maulani's
\nstatements as suggestions that deserved to be taken into
\nconsideration.<\/p>\n
\"The Armed Forces headquarters would process those
\nsuggestions,\" he was quoted by Antara. \"However, it is too early
\nfor us to say whether ABRI might really be changed into APRI.\"<\/p>\n
However, \"The Minister of Defense\/ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto
\nhas said that in the reform affecting the military, its
\ndoctrines, structures, education system and training would be
\nreexamined,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately on Wednesday, Wiranto attended a ceremony where 67
\nhigh-ranking officers reported their promotion. The officers
\nincluded Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Widodo A.S., Air Force Chief
\nof Staff Marshal Hanafie Asnan, and National Police Chief Gen.
\nRoesmanhadi.<\/p>\n
Wiranto said these promotions were the government's token of
\nappreciation of the dedication and loyalty of the soldiers. \"This
\npromotion is a recognition of your performance, which should be
\nfollowed by a synergy of potential and intelligence on your
\npart,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The other high ranking officers are Lt. Gen. Agus Widjaja who
\nis head of the ABRI Command School, Lt. Gen. A. Roestandi who is
\nchief of the ABRI legislature faction at the House of
\nRepresentatives, Maj. Gen. Johny P. Mandas, Maj. Gen. M. Mudakir,
\nMaj. Gen. Slamet Supriyadi, Maj. Gen. F.X. Suprono, and Maj. Gen.
\nDjoko Besariman.<\/p>\n
The other officers are Maj. Gen. Zainuri Hasyim, who is the
\nchief of Tanjungpura Regional Military Command, Maj. Gen. A.R.
\nGaffar who is the chief of Bukit Barisan Regional Military
\nCommand, and Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo who is the chief of the
\nDiponegoro Regional Military Command. (swe\/rms)<\/p>",
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