ABRI against comeback of old political forces: Susilo

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) vowed yesterday to prevent any attempt by "old political forces" to make a comeback into the Indonesian political arena.

ABRI Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs, Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said their return would represent a setback for the country.

"It's illogical, unrealistic and antagonistic if old political forces want to return and run the state's affairs," Susilo told a media conference at ABRIs Merdeka Barat Headquarters.

"And ABRI, together with all elements in society, will prevent them from making a return," he said, adding that time the for the old political forces had long since passed.

"The nation has two great challenges which it must rise to meet -- it must settle the economic crisis and proceed with reform," he said. "The political forces best equipped to carry out this agenda are those from the 'Reform Order', that is those who have played an active part in the reform movement."

He did not elaborate on who or what he meant by old political forces, but his remarks come amid rumors that former president Soeharto has been quietly campaigning to wrest back power through his loyalists in Golkar, the dominant political group.

Golkar plans to hold a congress next month, three months ahead of schedule, to elect a new chairman to replace Harmoko. Soeharto is still technically the supreme power in Golkar in his capacity as chief patron of the group.

Golkar's central executive board has split into two camps in the run up to the congress, each one fighting to win the right to manage the event. One of the camps includes two of Soeharto's children -- Siti Hardijanti Rukmana and Bambang Trihatmodjo.

Susilo said ABRI regarded Golkar's congress as its own internal affair and therefore had no intention of trying to influence the proceedings.

"ABRI will let Golkar's leaders settle their differences," he said.

He dismissed speculation that ABRI had been involved in establishing the mechanisms and the agenda for the Golkar congress. "I don't know of any agreement between the chairman of the Golkar patrons, President B.J. Habibie and Armed Forces chief Gen. Wiranto," he said.

Susilo admitted that ABRI had an historical relationship with Golkar, but said: "ABRI wants Golkar to be independent and to fight its own political battles in the future," he said.

"I believe Golkar's future is bright if it can truly represent the people's aspirations, offer the nation the best alternatives and take an active role in national development," he explained.

Susilo said that President B.J. Habibie's proposal to hold a general election in May next year was acceptable to the military, but added that ABRI had originally hoped for an earlier date, possibly March.

"After discussing the schedule with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the team responsible for drafting the new political laws, ABRI understands that preparations for the general election will take time," he said.

Gen. Wiranto last week outlined the military's concept of political reform, including the role which it will play in the new system, to President Habibie and House Speaker Harmoko.

Details of the concept have not been made fully public.

However, Susilo said ABRI felt that it should continue to have some representation in both the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly.

"The number of seats allocated to ABRI is open to discussion," he said.

Currently, ABRI, whose members do not vote in general elections, has 75 seats in the 500-strong House. ABRI also has some representation in the 1,000 strong Assembly.

Soesilo said that ABRI had never thought of establishing its own political party or allowing its members to run in elections.

"ABRI fears that any such move could be very divisive because of the different political aspirations of its members," he said. (imn)