Armed Forces must go back to basics<\/p>\n
Too many tragic incidents have occurred in Indonesia during
\nthe past few years. These have taken place in Tanjung Priok,
\nLampung, Dili, Irian Jaya and Medan. In 1996 there was the July
\n27 incident. The year 1998 was particularly bloody: the May 12
\nshootings of Trisakti University students; the May riots in
\nJakarta and Surakarta; the murder of those allegedly practicing
\nwitchcraft in East Java; the Semanggi incident on Nov. 12; the
\nKetapang violence in Jakarta and the Kupang riots. In January
\n1999, vicious incidents have prevailed in Lhokseumawe, Aceh.<\/p>\n
These bloody incidents have shown that under Soeharto's and
\nHabibie's regimes, the Armed Forces (ABRI) has acted repressively
\nand savagely, in the manner of occupation forces, against their
\nfellow Indonesians. ABRI has been used simply as an armed and
\npolitical instrument to safeguard and defend the power of the
\nruling regime and not as a defense\/security instrument to protect
\nthe Indonesian people and state.<\/p>\n
Allow me to appeal therefore, that in the next five years
\n(after the general session of the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR) resulting from the 1999 general election), ABRI must return
\nto basics, namely serving solely as a defense and security
\ninstrument to defend the country while abstaining from political
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
The dual role of the Armed Forces must be thoroughly
\nreformed. The representatives of ABRI should have seats in the
\nMPR as representatives of social groups only. ABRI must have a
\nminimum number of representatives in the House of People's
\nRepresentatives (DPR): 10 will suffice.<\/p>\n
The number of Armed Forces officers assuming ministerial
\nposts must also be limited. The positions of attorney general,
\nminister of justice and home ministers must be assumed by
\ncivilians.<\/p>\n
Armed Forces officers must relinquish all civilian posts
\nincluding those of governors, district heads, mayors,
\nsecretaries-general, directors general, service\/office,
\nsubdistrict and village heads.<\/p>\n
Take the capital city of Jakarta as an example. The governor
\nand the municipality heads are all Armed Forces officers. In
\naddition, some 400 ABRI officers assume civilian positions in the
\nadministrations. They even assume the positions of heads of the
\nhighway and traffic, cleanliness and fire brigade services.<\/p>\n
During this five year transitional period, the Armed Forces
\nmust gradually scrap its nondefense and nonsecurity functions.<\/p>\n
Military tribunals must be scrapped so that there is no
\ndistinction between civilian and military courts. The police must
\nreturn to their civilian nature and be placed directly under the
\npresident or the home minister.<\/p>\n
The curriculum of the Armed Forces Academy must be totally
\nreformed. As soon as possible ABRI must draw up a new doctrine to
\ndelineate its new functions. All laws related to the functions of
\nABRI must be reviewed. In addition, all ABRI members must be
\ndisciplined and their mental attitude reformed.<\/p>\n
ABRI must not think that it is the most powerful institution
\nin this country and can therefore do anything it pleases. It must
\nnever consider itself superior to civilian citizens. The Armed
\nForces must be 100 percent neutral in the 1999 general election.<\/p>\n
SUHARSONO HADIKUSUMO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/armed-forces-must-go-back-to-basics-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }