ABRI and civilians

ABRI and civilians

When I read in The Jakarta Post of Sept. 9, the statement made
by a well respected political scientist, Prof Dr Juwono
Sudarsono, vice governor of the National Resilience Institute, I
was surprised or, perhaps better, shocked.

He said no civilian for the time being is fit to fill the
position of president and that this position should still be in
the hands of Armed Forces officers, especially those from the
Army.

The following day I read reactions in Kompas from Minister of
Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, Coordinating Minister for
Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman, Prof Sutandyo
Wignyosubroto MPA, member of the National Human Rights Body,
Minister Harmoko, Dr Yahya Muhaimin, dean from Gajah Mada
University, and Gen.(ret) Rudini, all stating that civilians and
members of the Armed Forces have the same opportunity.

I am a little confused though because The Jakarta Post of
Sept. 10 on page 2 said that Yahya Muhaimin supported Juwono's
statement, while earlier in Kompas he gave a different view.
Which is correct Kompas or The Jakarta Post?

My reaction to the statement of Prof Juwono is that there
should be no difference between Armed Forces officers and
civilians. I myself am a retired officer of the Armed Forces, and
have served in civilian jobs including in a ministerial position,
ambassador, advisory position to a civilian minister etc. My
experience is that civilians have the same capability as Armed
forces officers, if given a fair chance.

Give civilians the chance and opportunity to prove their worth
in an atmosphere of trust and confidence and we will be surprised
how well they can perform their duties.

The Armed Forces in their dual capacity, should act as loving
parents, who are preparing their children (civilians) to reach
maturity and become independent, free from the tight control of
parents. Parents have the moral obligation to make their children
independent, capable of mature thinking, and to step down in due
time. That is my view of the dual function of the Armed Forces
(ABRI).

I am convinced that ABRI do not want to cling to their present
position and are working to create a compact and capable civilian
corps, but civilians themselves must also show their guts and be
prepared to shoulder heavy responsibilities. Then the role of
ABRI will diminish.

Prof Juwono once said, "If the number of professionals
increases and they can compete with the Armed Forces in the
execution of their individual state tasks nationwide then
naturally the intensity of the role of ABRI will diminish."

There are nine principles to the Armed Forces' dual function.
Principle No. 5 states that participation in active executive
government activities is done only in the framework of
stabilization and dynamism; and principle No. 9 says that as long
as other people (civilians) can do it properly let them do it. So
give civilians the chance and opportunity.

On this very sensitive political topic, we have heard no
comments so far from Armed Forces high officials. Perhaps their
opinion, personal or official, can help to bring some light to
this issue.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta