Stop denouncing ABRI?<\/p>\n
Retired Gen. Try Sutrisno, in his capacity as general chairman
\nof the Association of Retired Members of the Armed Forces of the
\nRepublic of Indonesia (Pepabri) has made a statement on
\ntelevision calling on the Indonesian people to stop denouncing
\nthe Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia (ABRI).<\/p>\n
It must be difficult for the people not to denounce ABRI
\nbecause under the Soeharto and Habibie regimes ABRI has committed
\ngrave errors, thus hurting the people's hearts. ABRI has failed
\nto protect the people as evidenced in the following incidents:
\nthe Tanjung Priok incident (Try Sutrisno was at the time the
\nresponsible regional military commander of Jakarta), the
\nincidents in Lampung, Dili, Aceh and Irian Jaya, the July 26,
\n1996 tragedy, the Trisakti tragedy on May 12, 1998, the
\nrioting\/looting\/arson\/gang rapine in Jakarta and Solo on May 13
\nand 14, 1998, the massacre of those alleged to be black magic
\npractitioners in Banyuwangi, the Semanggi tragedy on November 13,
\n1998 and the Ketapang incident in Jakarta on November 20, 1998 in
\nwhich a number of churches and schools were set on fire and
\ndestroyed. Obviously ABRI has failed to perform its function as a
\ndefense and security instrument to protect the Indonesian people
\nand fatherland. Many of the above cases have even been
\norchestrated by ABRI itself.<\/p>\n
Under the Soeharto and Habibie regimes, ABRI has been made an
\ninstrument for maintaining both the power of the state rulers and
\npolitical stability. ABRI has turned itself into an instrument of
\nthe state which acts repressively and is opposed to the people.
\nJust look at the Semanggi tragedy. How could live bullets be used
\nto kill the students and the common people? Even after the
\nTrisakti tragedy, ABRI could still afford to let a similar
\ntragedy occur. Perhaps all acts committed by ABRI have been
\ndeliberately planned to defend the interests of Soeharto and his
\ncronies.<\/p>\n
The political party which triumphs in the upcoming 1999
\ngeneral election must have the guts to reject the presence of
\nABRI representatives in the House of Representatives. Besides,
\nABRI members must also be required to give up their civilian
\npositions. ABRI must return to its basic function.<\/p>\n
SUHARSONO HADIKUSUMO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/stop-denouncing-abri-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }