ABRI reshuffle may change political equation<\/p>\n
By Imanuddin<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The recent reshuffle of the Armed Forces'
\n(ABRI's) top leadership could significantly alter Indonesian
\npolitics generally and relations between the military and Moslems
\nin particular, according to two leading political commentators.<\/p>\n
However, the University of Indonesia's Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin
\nsaid over the weekend that it was very unlikely that ABRI would
\nbecome completely Moslem-oriented, given that its leaders are
\ncontinually rotated.<\/p>\n
Affan Gaffar of Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University also said
\nthat it would be premature to suggest that the recent changes
\nwere made with a view to the 1998 presidential election.<\/p>\n
Given the growing political power and influence of the
\nAssociation of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), under the
\nleadership of State Minister of Research and Technology B.J.
\nHabibie, any analysis of Indonesian politics must pay careful
\nattention to the relationship between ABRI and Moslems.<\/p>\n
ABRI, led by chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung, and ICMI, under
\nHabibie, have managed to strike cordial relations, in contrast to
\nthe past when the military and Moslem groups have often viewed
\neach other with suspicion.<\/p>\n
The most significant change in last week's ABRI reshuffle was
\nthe appointment of Gen. Hartono, a devout Moslem who has the
\nrespect of the country's ulemas (Moslem scholars), as the new
\nArmy chief of staff. He replaces Gen. Wismoyo Arismunandar.<\/p>\n
Hartono is also known as a trusted aide of ABRI chief Gen.
\nFeisal Tanjung. \"By choosing Hartono, Feisal expects better
\ncoordination between his office and the Army,\" Nazaruddin said.<\/p>\n
The other changes were the appointment of Maj. Gen. Moch.
\nMa'ruf as ABRI's chief of socio-political affairs and Maj. Gen.
\nSoeyono as chief of general affairs.<\/p>\n
Nazaruddin said he detected a shift in emphasis in the
\nmilitary's leadership succession process, with greater emphasis
\nbeing given to general abilities, as opposed to specialization.<\/p>\n
In the past, the post of Army Chief of Staff was exclusively
\nreserved for those who had risen through the Army's ranks, and
\nespecially for those with combat experience, he said.<\/p>\n
Hartono, who was formerly ABRI's chief of socio-political
\naffairs, is the first chief of staff to be recruited from ABRI
\nheadquarters rather than from the Army.<\/p>\n
While the impact of Hartono's appointment is open to various
\npredictions, the reason for his appointment by President Soeharto
\nis similarly difficult to ascertain.<\/p>\n
Lt. Gen. (ret.) Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo, a prominent military
\nthinker and former governor of the National Defense Institute,
\ndeclined to speculate on the \"why\" but stressed that Hartono had
\nall the necessary qualifications for the job.<\/p>\n
\"It is the President's prerogative to determine who is
\nsuitable for such a political post,\" Sayidiman said.<\/p>\n
Affan said the changes proved, if anything, that the
\nsuccession within ABRI has become even more unpredictable.<\/p>\n
The appointment of Hartono, he said, defied all earlier
\npredictions because Hartono, although he was a year younger than
\nhis predecessor, was Wismoyo's senior in the Army.<\/p>\n
For this reason, Affan warned against attempts to link the
\nreshuffle with the 1998 presidential election.<\/p>\n
He predicted that, given their age, Feisal and Hartono would
\nonly hold their positions for two more years, which means neither
\nman would be around during the crucial election year. \"But then
\nagain, the President, if he wishes to, could always extend their
\ntour of active duty beyond the mandatory retirement age.\"<\/p>\n
\"One thing is for sure: whoever commands ABRI controls the
\ncountry's political system,\" he added.<\/p>\n
He also said that the cordial relations between ABRI and the
\nMoslem groups could always change.<\/p>\n
Nazaruddin warned against expecting ABRI to change its
\napproach to the Moslem groups.<\/p>\n
\"The Army has two fixed and established doctrines: Pancasila
\n(the state ideology) and the Sapta Marga (the soldier's oath).
\nThese are constant.\"<\/p>\n
Nazaruddin said that more than anything, Hartono's religious
\npiety would be have a positive effect on his leadership of the
\nArmy. \"It will be a force to restrain him from doing bad deeds.\"<\/p>",
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