May the force be with them<\/p>\n
I refer to the article, ABRI lends full support to govt, on
\npage one of this newspaper on Jan. 3. This headline might create
\nmisconceptions about our ABRI, the Armed Forces. The title
\nindicates the Armed Forces has no other choice but to fully
\nsupport the government.<\/p>\n
In my opinion, the only way the Armed Forces can follow is
\nthrough carrying out the government's policy. It is a tool of the
\ngovernment of the Unitary State of Indonesia based on Pancasila
\nand the 1945 Constitution. So it has no other option but to do
\nwhat the government says. Although the same is true in other
\ncountries, I emphasize that the President is the Supreme
\nCommander of the Armed Forces.<\/p>\n
The dual function of the Armed Forces in this country does not
\nmean that it is a political party and can follow policies other
\nthan those of the government.<\/p>\n
Let us take a close look at what this dual function actually
\nmeans. Succinctly, it is all activities, endeavors, efforts or
\nundertakings carried out by the Armed Forces outside the sphere
\nof jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense and Security. This is
\nwith the sole aim to accelerate national development in order to
\nstrengthen resilience in the process of achieving our national
\naim, as formulated in the preamble to the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
This dual function is a creation of yesterday, but has strong
\nroots since the beginning of the freedom struggle. If you still
\ndoubt the legality of the dual function, look up Law No.20\/1982
\narticles 26 and 28, amended in Law No.2\/1988. Through citing
\nthese laws, I merely want to prove that this is not a product of
\npower-hungry military officers. Even the execution of this dual
\nfunction has its limitations, some of which include:<\/p>\n
1. The political line followed by the Armed Forces is the policy
\nof the 1945 Constitution, not the policy of particular groups,
\nnot even of the Armed Forces itself.<\/p>\n
2. To achieve the goal, the use of arms, armed threats and misuse
\nof power are prohibited.<\/p>\n
3. In the execution of its political activity, the Armed Forces
\nmust use persuasive and constitutional methods.<\/p>\n
4. Participation is done in the framework of stabilization and
\neffecting dynamics.<\/p>\n
I hope that with this short explanation, the position and role
\nof the Armed Forces becomes clear, and there will be no doubt
\nthat its loyalty is only to the unitary state of the republic of
\nIndonesia through its task to guarantee that all the government's
\ndecisions are carried out without any disturbance. In my opinion,
\nthe Armed Forces has to obey all the government's decisions. That
\nis why I believe the headline of the article could be misleading.<\/p>\n
I would like to wish all a happy New Year, with the hope that
\nthe Indonesian people will have the courage and strength to
\novercome the present crisis. If we stay united, I am sure we will
\nsucceed because Indonesia is a nation of winners, as our history
\nhas proven.<\/p>\n
SOEGIH ARTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/may-the-force-be-with-them-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }