ABRI at 51

In size, the 500,000-strong Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI), which includes the police force, may be small considering the size of the country and the population. However, compared to the armed forces of many other countries, its role is definitely much bigger because it is not confined to security matters, but involves social and political affairs as well.

Formed in 1945, ABRI takes pride in calling itself a "people's army" that originated from the people and will always serve the people. ABRI officers often characterize ABRI's relations with the people as "fish and water", as fish can not live without water.

Today, as ABRI celebrates its 51st anniversary with a colossal play depicting its history as a people's army, it is a good opportunity to scrutinize how ABRI has played its role in the past 51 years.

Out of its very origins and from the key role which it played during the struggle for independence, ABRI developed the concept of its dual function as a guardian of the country's security and as a stabilizing force in the nation's social and political life. This concept has been formally adopted by the People's Consultative Assembly and is therefore part of the national consensus.

In the last several years, however, there have been people -- mostly students and some retired military officers -- who continue to question this concept. It is generally believed that these questions do not concern the legality of the concept itself, but rather the actual application of it. There are those who believe that the sociopolitical role of ABRI should be continually adjusted to the level of progress which Indonesian society has made.

ABRI leaders have accepted this idea and as President Soeharto has said, ABRI will gradually move from an active leadership position to a guiding one and shift its role from that of a stabilizer to that of a dynamic force. Steps towards this have already been taken, among other things, by the reduction of the number of seats reserved for ABRI from 100 to 75 in the national legislature.

Still, in recent years, questions have been raised -- notably by certain outspoken retired generals -- on ABRI's relations with the people. Some have complained that instead of being consistent in taking the side of the people, ABRI is gradually becoming alienated from the people. Others have argued that ABRI should stand in the middle, not align itself with a political organization and take a neutral stand in the general elections.

Critics also complain that in its endeavor to preserve stability, ABRI has been too rigid in implementing the security approach, which has resulted in an overly security-oriented policy that tends to see an enemy behind every corner.

We believe such criticism is constructive, that it bears no malice and that it should be received accordingly. The call made by Gen. A.H. Nasution, one of the founders of ABRI, for the Armed Forces to "return to the people's fold" should be seen in such a positive light.

Many are also be concerned about the fact that a growing number of people, notably from the younger generation, seem to be gradually losing confidence in ABRI. One occasionally reads in the newspapers about instances in which soldiers or police officers are stoned or attacked by mobs of people. Fortunately, such incidents do not occur frequently or widely. Still, the growing number of such cases is cause for alarm because it shows how people who should feel secure and at peace in the presence of ABRI members are now in some instances getting nervous and sometimes even feel hostile towards ABRI personnel. The harsh and sometimes even improper use of violence in cases where ABRI has had to deal with peaceful protesters has not helped to boost ABRI's image among the people.

This anniversary, we believe, provides a good impetus for our Armed Forces to take stock of its past journey through our nation's history. Certainly in past years, ABRI has rendered us all a great service by preserving the country's stability and unity. In the future, Indonesians will continue to look to ABRI for maintaining these. But new situations bring new challenges and history will record how ABRI copes with the problems that lay ahead.