New Order duties overburdened ABRI: Bambang<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): As the debate rages over the scope of the Armed
\nForces (ABRI) role in the reform era, a senior ABRI officer has
\nadmitted the military was overburdened during the New Order
\nregime of former president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Addressing foreign and local executives and diplomats at a
\nluncheon of the Indonesian Executives Club Wednesday, ABRI Chief
\nof Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono
\npartly blamed the New Order government for overextending his
\norganization with duties, which had caused it to commit errors.<\/p>\n
He said ABRI was invested with too many tasks and roles to
\nfulfill, and had become too powerful as a result.<\/p>\n
After the luncheon address, he explained to reporters that
\nABRI's failing was that it had felt responsible for all of the
\nnation's problems. A new awareness, he said, should be developed
\nthat the military shares the country's responsibilities.<\/p>\n
But he stressed the Armed Forces was still needed to uphold
\nnational stability.<\/p>\n
"Could we overcome the crisis and carry out the reform program
\nwithout national stability? Could the government conduct its
\npositive steps to heal the troubled economy if riots and
\ndisturbances still occur in a number of areas in Indonesia?"<\/p>\n
Bambang regretted that the military was linked to or blamed
\nfor past unrest, mass killings and human rights violations.<\/p>\n
As far as security and stability were concerned, the public
\nturned to the military, he said, but it was condemned for
\ninfractions and deaths when handling riots, massive
\ndemonstrations, labor strikes and other problems.<\/p>\n
Although Bambang acknowledged that ABRI had committed errors,
\nhe argued they occurred in the name of ensuring stability and
\nmaintaining public order.<\/p>\n
"To tell the truth, what ABRI did in the past was part of its
\nmission to maintain security and order which the state held ABRI
\nto be responsible for."<\/p>\n
He denied allegations ABRI was behind recent riots in several
\ncities, saying the organization had never engineered "unlaudable
\nactions" for its own interests.<\/p>\n
"ABRI still has many things to do. It is conducting
\nconsolidation against fierce criticism of its bad image in the
\npast. We are making corrections," he said after the meeting.<\/p>\n
Echoing previous statements of Minister of Defense and
\nSecurity\/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto, he said ABRI was
\nmaking adjustments to its dual social political function because
\nit was determined to better itself in accordance with the
\ngovernment's push for democracy.<\/p>\n
The military would focus more on its defense role, he said,
\nand minimize its political role by reducing representation in the
\nHouse of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly.<\/p>\n
"We will put the emphasis on quality and not on quantity."<\/p>\n
He also said foreign countries should not intervene
\nexcessively in Indonesia's internal affairs despite their aid to
\nthe battered country.<\/p>\n
"We do not want any intervention which may lead us to fail in
\ncarrying out national reform. We will be very pleased and
\ngrateful for any foreign support and assistance sincerely
\nprovided to this beloved country," he said.<\/p>\n
"Despite democratization, this does not mean that security and
\nstability are to be neglected and stranded."<\/p>\n
American envoy Stapleton J. Roy was quoted by Antara after the
\ntalk saying that his government believed Indonesia under
\nPresident B.J. Habibie would be able to manage all problems
\ncaused by the crisis.<\/p>\n
He said the country had the chance to implement political and
\neconomic reforms which would be important in creating the
\nrequired stability.<\/p>\n
Roy also expressed agreement with Bambang's assertion that the
\nnation needed a capable rather than a strong leader. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-order-duties-overburdened-abri-bambang-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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