ABRI's fate under review<\/p>\n
My questions here are solely based on an article written by
\nWahyudi M. Pratopo, which appeared in The Jakarta Post's Sunday
\nissue, Feb. 26, 1995. If the article written is not accurate,
\nthen my questions based on that are not accurate either.<\/p>\n
Mr. Marbun of the Indonesian Democratic Party said that the
\nArmed Forces' (ABRI) participation is guaranteed in the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) and because of that ABRI should give
\nup all the seats in House of Representatives (DPR). He said 100
\nABRI members in the House is over representation, since the
\nnumber of ABRI is less than one million.<\/p>\n
1. Who guaranteed ABRI seats in MPR? If ABRI's seats in the
\nHouse can be changed then the seats in MPR can also be changed.
\nMoreover, the tasks of MPR and the House are different.
\nThe MPR is not going to discuss the state budget or tax laws or
\nany other laws, which is a very important political indication of
\nthe state's strategy.<\/p>\n
2. Why did Mr. Marbun agree when the decision was made that
\nABRI should have 100 members in the House? Why did Mr. Marbun at
\nthat time not point out that there are less than one million ABRI
\nmembers, against 180 million common people?<\/p>\n
I wonder also about the statement made by the honorable Mr.
\nYusuf Syakir of the United Development Party who stated that
\nwhether ABRI has 50 or 100 seats, it has the same effectiveness.
\nMy questions are:<\/p>\n
1. If this is true, then why do political parties "fight" to
\nhave more and more seats in the House?<\/p>\n
2. Why should the vacated seats be given to political parties
\nto increase their seats, while the number of seats has no
\ninfluence on effectiveness?<\/p>\n
The bombshell is the opinion of Mr. Riswandi Imawan, a staff
\nlecturer of Gadjah Mada University. He proposes that ABRI be
\ngiven veto rights on issues concerning national stability and
\nunity. I was perplexed at this proposal. This is clearly the
\nbeginning of dictatorship of a minority (60 members against 440
\nmembers). If I am not mistaken this veto does not exist in the
\nPancasila democracy of Indonesia. It always has been musyawarah
\nuntuk mufakat (consultations for achieving unanimous agreement).
\nMy questions:<\/p>\n
1. What is national stability and unity? If you so wish, any
\ntopic can be considered to fall under the heading national
\nstability or national unity. In this way any topic can be used or
\nmisused for that purpose. And then ABRI jumps in with their right
\nof veto.<\/p>\n
2. How does he come to the number of 60 seats for ABRI?<\/p>\n
As a retired member of ABRI I am proud and extremely happy
\nreading the statement made by ABRI's Chief of Social and
\nPolitical Affairs Maj. Gen. Moch Ma'ruf, saying that the military
\nis prepared to accept a cut in the number of seats in the House
\nif it is in the interest of the nation's progress. This shows the
\nwise and mature attitude of ABRI. Aminullah Ibrahim, member of
\nthe House from ABRI said: "If that is what the people want then
\nit is okay."<\/p>\n
The slogan "ABRI serves the people" proves to be not a hollow
\nslogan after all. Members of ABRI cannot spend their whole lives
\nas politicians because they have military duties to perform. And
\nyet their attitude shows political wisdom far beyond expectation.
\nABRI holds high the name of a stabilizing and dynamic force.<\/p>\n
SOEGIH ARTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/abris-fate-under-review-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }