ABRI asked to reduce sociopolitical role

JAKARTA (JP): Two political scientists made a fresh call on the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) to reduce its involvement in political affairs.

Indria Samego and Syamsuddin Haris, two researchers from the Center for Political Affairs and Regional Studies at the National Institute of Sciences, agreed separately that a reduced role would be in line with the increasing demand for democratization, and with current political conditions.

Indonesia was facing greater and more complicated developmental challenges than in the past, Indria said.

"We also have to deal with political challenges that come with totally different motives (than those in the past)," said Indria, the center's chairman.

He said the protracted currency crisis was an example of a new challenge.

He dismissed the suggestion that the Armed Forces was so powerful it would be able to handle all state matters.

"If it really was that powerful, they should show us how to handle the rupiah crisis," he said.

Calls for a reduced role for ABRI in social and political affairs have been repeatedly voiced in the past and the discourse continues to surface from time to time.

Indria said civilians never objected to the argument that ABRI's deep involvement in social and political affairs was because the people gave it birth during the independence war.

He suggested that, given the changes that time has wrought, ABRI revise its social and political roles.

Syamsuddin called for an evaluation of the practice of placing ABRI officers in government offices.

"It's not wrong for ABRI members to join politics, but they should not dominate state political affairs," he said.

"People are now demanding a healthier, open and democratic political system," he said.

"This demand cannot be prevented."

The solution, he said, was to reduce the number of ABRI officers involved in the political arena.

Indria, however, said changes to the Armed Forces' sociopolitical role should not be made in the immediate future.

"It must be introduced gradually and in accordance with the ongoing political situation," he said.

Syamsuddin said non-military groups found it difficult to develop because ABRI, as the power holder, was too involved in political affairs, especially in the internal affairs of political organizations.

"Civilians will never be ready to assume the country's important positions because they are never prepared for them," he said.

Syamsuddin said the political involvement of ABRI members should not touch the executive and legislative bodies.

"Their place is in the People's Consultative Assembly, which deals with conceptual rather than practical matters," he said.

"Armed Forces members do not vote in general elections. Their political participation in the Assembly should only be as representatives of various professions," he said.

Syamsuddin was pessimistic about the chances of ABRI accepting his suggestion.

"It's a matter of political will. And it's common for whoever is in power to be reluctant to step down," he said.

"We have to wait until ABRI itself is willing to reduce its social and political role." (imn)