Military criticized for Golkar affiliation<\/p>\n
SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): Two top scholars from the
\nDiponegoro University joined the fray yesterday in criticizing
\nthe Armed Forces (ABRI) for siding with the ruling Golkar party.<\/p>\n
Nurdien HK and Susilo Utomo warned that the military's policy
\nwill only increase "envy" among political groups and represent a
\n"setback" in the development of democracy in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Both political scholars question why ABRI does not instead act
\nas a neutral patron for all the three political organizations:
\nGolkar, the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP), as it is supposed to be.<\/p>\n
"If ABRI insists on patronizing Golkar and treating the PPP
\nand PDI like stepchildren, it risks worsening political envy
\nwithin society," Nurdien told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The debate on ABRI's stand was triggered last week by Maj.
\nGen. Syarwan Hamid, assistant to ABRI's chief of the socio-
\npolitical affairs department.<\/p>\n
Syarwan argued that the military needed Golkar as a trusted
\npartner in channeling its political aspirations. "As a socio-
\npolitical force, ABRI cannot be neutral and it has to choose a
\npartner to achieve its goals," he said.<\/p>\n
ABRI Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung yesterday reaffirmed the stand.<\/p>\n
"As a defense and security force, ABRI gives equal treatment
\nto all political organization. But as a socio-political
\norganization, the big ABRI family gives its support to Golkar,"
\nhe told reporters in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Golkar was founded by the military in 1964 to block the
\ngrowing influence of the Indonesian Communist Party, which was
\nbanned after it was involved in a bloody coup attempt in 1965.<\/p>\n
Nurdien said that Syarwan's reasoning is dubious because,
\nafter all, Indonesia's political organizations agreed in 1985 to
\nhave the state ideology Pancasila as their sole foundation. "This
\nmeans that the nation no longer has an ideological problem. So
\nwhy should we play favoritism?" he said.<\/p>\n
"ABRI's siding with Golkar does not do any good to the growth
\nof democracy. This is in fact a setback for ABRI which claims to
\nsupport democracy," he added.<\/p>\n
Susilo Utomo said the military should take a neutral stand so
\nthat it can take corrective measures in case any of the political
\norganizations abuse the principles of Pancasila or the
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
"Syarwan Hamid's statement shows that the political elite is
\nnot prepared to accommodate the growing demand for
\ndemocratization," he said.<\/p>\n
With the remarks, the military apparently means to address a
\nperceived rift between civilians and military factions within
\nGolkar. "Unfortunately, Syarwan's statement sounds like the
\nmilitary favors Golkar and is disregarding the PPP and PDI," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Political observer Amir Santoso said in Semarang that
\ncriticism of the military's "dual function" in both defense and
\npolitics has not abated.<\/p>\n
In politics, he said, ABRI is accused of favoring one
\npolitical organization instead of remaining neutral.<\/p>\n
According to Amir, the Indonesian public welcomes the
\nmilitary's dual role in principle but its practical application
\nis the subject of much criticism. (har\/pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/military-criticized-for-golkar-affiliation-1447893297",
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