Syarwan Hamid stresses dialog for democracy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior Armed Forces (ABRI) officer stressed
\nyesterday that dialog was the best way to bridge differences of
\nopinion while the country's democracy was developing.<\/p>\n
\"Democratization and openness call for discussion between
\npeople with different views on political and development issues,\"
\nsaid Armed Forces Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen.
\nSyarwan Hamid.<\/p>\n
Syarwan, who is rumored to lead the Armed Forces faction in
\nthe House of Representatives after Oct. 1, said that those who
\nhad remained outside the political system were welcome to discuss
\nthese issues.<\/p>\n
\"We could talk with opposition groups as long as we share
\nsimilar views on basic state matters,\" he said.<\/p>\n
For a start, they all had to believe in God, the first of five
\nprinciples in the Pancasila state ideology.<\/p>\n
\"It is impossible to hold a discussion between a group of
\nbelievers on one side and non-believers on the other. They will
\nnever find a meeting point,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Syarwan declined to categorize retired servicemen who were
\ncritical of the government as an opposition group.<\/p>\n
He denied that there was a serious rift between serving and
\nretired officers.<\/p>\n
\"You (journalists) know that none of our seniors were involved
\nin the series of riots during the election campaign,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We might have had our differences, but they are still within
\nthe system and constitutionally tolerable,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces has been in constant touch with its retired
\nofficers, he said, citing a series of formal and informal
\nmeetings in the last three months.<\/p>\n
In April, the Army organized a reunion of 1951-1961 graduates
\nof the Army Staff and Command School. About 200 of the 1951-1961
\ngraduates held closed-door meetings with active officers.<\/p>\n
On June 9, about 200 retired generals went to the Armed Forces
\nheadquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, to receive badges and
\ncertificates for their role in establishing the People's Security
\nForces, which later became the Armed Forces.<\/p>\n
Gen. (ret) Abdul Haris Nasution, the first Army chief of
\nstaff, and former chief of the Army Strategic and Reserves
\nCommand Lt. Gen. (ret) Achmad Kemal Idris attended the ceremony.<\/p>\n
On June 13, retired and active officers had another chance to
\nmeet during a ceremony to transfer the Army chief of staff post
\nfrom Gen. R. Hartono to Gen. Wiranto. Nasution headed the guest
\nlist of retired officers that also included M. Panggabean,
\nPoniman, Makmun Murod, Edi Sudradjat, Wismoyo Arismunandar and
\nBambang Triantoro.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces would support democratization, Syarwan said,
\nbut added that people should first develop democratic attitudes.<\/p>\n
\"Democracy and openness are good. Why shouldn't we put these
\nprinciples into practice?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
Syarwan declined to comment on rumors of his new appointment,
\nsaying that he would leave the matter to his superiors.<\/p>\n
\"The ABRI chief has not said anything about my future
\nassignment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"As a soldier I am ready to be assigned anywhere,\" he said,
\nadding that he would give his best in whatever post he served.<\/p>\n
The military, whose members did not vote in the May general
\nelection, is assured 75 of the 500 seats in the House of
\nRepresentatives in the next term which begins Oct. 1.<\/p>\n
Syarwan said the Armed Forces would retain at least one-third
\nof its current representatives in the House.<\/p>\n
\"We will keep representatives who are experienced and
\nqualified, so they can share their knowledge and experience with
\nnew ones,\" he said. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/syarwan-hamid-stresses-dialog-for-democracy-1447893297",
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