ABRI's role in politics expected to increase in future: Syarwan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) chief of sociopolitical
\naffairs, Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, is predicting that the military
\nwill play a greater role in sociopolitics in the next five to ten
\nyears.<\/p>\n
"This expected increase is in accordance with the... policies
\nof ABRI leaders," Syarwan was quoted by Antara as saying
\nyesterday in Bali, where he briefed 169 officers to be nominated
\nas ABRI representatives in the legislative councils in East and
\nWest Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
Syarwan told the officers that social and political issues
\nwill occupy more and more attention in the nation's life. On
\naccount of this, ABRI, in its capacity as a sociopolitical force,
\nneeds to be more professional and adjust to changes and demands.<\/p>\n
In addition, ABRI officers need to be more sensitive, to be
\nproactive and adapt themselves to any situation so that their
\npresence in any institutions or agencies, or even among the
\npeople, will be deemed valuable.<\/p>\n
"The presence of ABRI members should give an added value to...
\nthe political system of the Pancasila democracy," Syarwan said.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that public discourses on the dual function of
\nABRI will increase along with the growing complexity of social
\nand political issues. "We need a more responsive,
\ncommunicative... approach in our efforts to implement ABRI's role
\nas a sociopolitical force," he said.<\/p>\n
"If ABRI is able to do this, then its members will always be
\nwelcomed, wherever they are," he said.<\/p>\n
ABRI's Dwifungsi, the dual function of defense and politics,
\nis among issues that resurface time and again as major topics of
\npolitical discussion. One of the recent debates was provoked when
\nsome ABRI leaders reiterated that ABRI should not stay neutral in
\npolitics and that its members should choose Golkar as its
\npartner.<\/p>\n
And Syarwan said in October last year that in discharging its
\npolitical role, the military has to take sides, and it has chosen
\nGolkar because the two share the same ideals and objectives.<\/p>\n
ABRI Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung also said then that as a
\ndefense and security force, ABRI remains neutral, but when it
\ncomes to politics, it supports Golkar, the ruling political
\ngroup.<\/p>\n
Syarwan, however, said yesterday that in line with the
\nchanging social and political situation, as well as the growing
\ndemand for ABRI to play a greater role in development, ABRI is
\nnow taking a back seat in both areas.<\/p>\n
He cited the Javanese term of tut wuri handayani, a
\ndescription of someone standing and observing from the rear while
\nencouraging other people to go forward.<\/p>\n
"Since its foundation, ABRI has always given other parties the
\nopportunity to assume a greater role in national development," he
\nsaid. "ABRI is always ready to create dynamics whenever there's
\nstagnation, and to introduce stability as well as bridge various
\ninterests." (ste\/swe)<\/p>",
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