ABRI announces 25 new faces in the House

ABRI announces 25 new faces in the House

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) announced yesterday that it will replace 25 of its officers currently serving in the House of Representatives (DPR) next month as part of what it is calling a "mid-term reshuffle".

The announcement was made by the ABRI faction's spokesman, Brig. Gen. Taheri Noer, who did not give a complete list of those affected by the change.

However, Taheri confirmed that the 25 new faces would include at least five men of the rank of major general: Ismail, Theo Syafei, Haris Sudarno, Hari Sabarno and Iskandar Kamil, Antara reported.

Analysts said yesterday that the presence of men of their rank and experience in the House may be an effort by ABRI to strengthen its role in politics in the face of a motion, now before the House, that the number of seats reserved for the military be reduced from 100 to 75.

Taheri Noer said that the changes were routine and that ABRI was always reinvigorating its faction in the House. "There is no other reason. We carry out a rotation every year," he said.

He said that every year the ABRI faction replaces 25 of its 100 members in the House.

Taheri cautioned reporters against suggesting that the ABRI representatives were being "recalled", a term that has been used to refer to the recent dismissals, by other factions in the House, of certain legislators.

Under the current law, ABRI, whose personnel do not vote in general elections, automatically gets 100 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives. The other 400 seats are contested among the three political organizations: Golkar, the United Development Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party.

The Armed Forces signaled early this year that it was prepared to accept a cut in the number of its reserved House seats, a gesture widely interpreted as reflecting the military's greater confidence about political stability in the country.

Following this, the government submitted a bill to the house last month which, if passed, will effect the reduction. It is expected that the bill will be enacted in time for the 1997 general election.

The military has given assurances that the reduction in the number of ABRI legislators will not in any way weaken its socio- political role.

Antara reported yesterday that current ABRI legislators who are being withdrawn include Maj. Gen. Arifin, Brig. Gen. Soewito Sudarmodjo, Brig. Gen. Moelyono M.S., Brig. Gen. Azhim Zahif, Brig. Gen. Udju S. Dinata, Brig. Gen. Kamaruddin, Brig. Gen. Maniur Pasaribu, Brig. Gen. Bob G.D. Polla, Col. E. Syarifuddin, Col. Sudjalmo, Lt. Col. Moch. Kissa D.S., Lt. Col. Joko Santoso, Lt. Col. Mustafa Sacky Akbar, Rear Admiral Nadjeh Sudradjat, Rear Admiral Roesdi Roesli, Navy Col.Ishak Latuconsina, Air Commodore Nurzirwan, Col. Sukandar Arum and Col. Sudirman.

Besides the five major generals, the new faces include Brig. Gen. Ambo Eteng Amin and Brig. Gen. Djoko Sardjono, Antara reported. (emb)