The Armed Forces in parliament<\/p>\n
It is now almost certain that the number of Armed Forces
\nrepresentatives in the national legislature will be reduced from
\nthe present 100 to 75. Representing the government, Armed Forces
\n(ABRI) Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung, Minister\/ State Secretary
\nMoerdiono and Home Affairs Minister Yogie SM have met with the
\nleaders of the legislature to convey that intention. According to
\nplan, the government will submit a draft law concerning this
\nrather phenomenal move.<\/p>\n
The plan is phenomenal because, for as long as the New Order
\nhas been in power, the presence of an Armed Forces faction in the
\nHouse of Representatives has never been debated, either with
\nregard to the number of its representatives or its function. It
\nis also phenomenal because the Armed Forces faction in
\nparliament, which has so far been considered to represent the
\nArmed Forces dual function in society, itself initiated this move
\ntowards a reduction.<\/p>\n
To us, this move signals two things. First, the government's
\npolitical will to move towards greater democratization is
\ngrowing. Second, ABRI is becoming increasingly more open to
\nmaking the corrections which the times demand. The present
\nshrinking world order, global norms increasingly influence our
\nlocal standards.<\/p>\n
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-armed-forces-in-parliament-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }