Don't recall arbitrarily: Syarwan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior-ranking Armed Forces (ABRI) officer has
\ncalled on political organizations to refrain as far as possible
\nfrom withdrawing their legislators from the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR), even if they are deemed undisciplined.<\/p>\n
The political groups would be better off to take disciplinary
\nmeasures against them rather than \"recall\" them from the House,
\nMaj. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, assistant to ABRI's chief of socio-
\npolitical affairs, was quoted by Antara yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"The move to recall a legislator should be taken only if he
\nhad deviated from the political group's official line and could
\nnot be brought back on the right course,\" Syarwan said.<\/p>\n
His remarks followed the dismissal of two outspoken
\nlegislators over the past month because they were deemed by their
\nleaders as being undisciplined.<\/p>\n
Golkar recalled Bambang Warih Koesoemo and the process was
\ncompleted this month when President Soeharto gave the final
\napproval. The recalling of Sri Bintang Pamungkas of the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) is not complete yet, but the House
\nleadership has indicated that it did not see any problem with the
\nPPP executive board's proposal.<\/p>\n
Although Bintang's withdrawal is not finalized, PPP has
\nalready announced his replacement: Hadimulyo, currently deputy
\nchief of PPP's Research and Development Agency in the Central
\nExecutive Board.<\/p>\n
Golkar has yet to announce the replacement of Bambang.<\/p>\n
Both Golkar and PPP leaders came under criticism from
\npolitical analysts for firing their outspoken legislators. They
\nsaid the move would further hurt the House's image often
\nportrayed as a mere rubber stamp agency for the government.<\/p>\n
Syarwan, who was recently promoted after serving as ABRI's
\nchief spokesman for two years, said yesterday that withdrawing
\nlegislators from the House is not taboo. \"But the decision has to
\nbe based on logic. It must not be arbitrary.\"<\/p>\n
He said House members who do not perform their job and who are
\nregarded as counterproductive should be recalled.<\/p>\n
Syarwan said House members have the right to be vocal \"as long
\nas they do it within the legal corridors.\"<\/p>\n
\"They can be vocal but they must act responsibly. They should
\nthink of the consequences of what they say,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, ABRI, which has 100 of the 500 seats in the House,
\nhas announced its plan to replace some of them in what its
\nofficials describe as a routine periodic tour of duty.<\/p>\n
The changes this time have been seen as perhaps one of the
\nbiggest, affecting between 20 and 25 representatives.<\/p>\n
The changes come following a major reshuffle in ABRI's
\nleadership over the past two months which affected up to 260
\nsenior-ranking military officers.<\/p>\n
Among those rumored to be replace is Navy Vice Admiral Abu
\nHartono, currently the ABRI Faction chairman.<\/p>\n
One of the new ABRI faces expected is Maj. Gen. Hari Sabarno,
\nthe former assistant to ABRI chief of socio-political affairs.<\/p>\n
Brig. Gen. Suwito, secretary of the ABRI faction, said he
\nexpected ABRI Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung to announce the changes
\nbefore April 1.<\/p>\n
But the actual replacement of some of the representatives
\ncould be delayed until June pending the completion of some of the
\non-going works in the House, Suwito told reporters on Monday.
\n(emb)<\/p>",
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