ABRI can do no good

ABRI can do no good

It is only logical that lately the Indonesian Armed Forces
(ABRI) has become the center of political attention, combined
with unfair criticism from several groups. ABRI is very active at
this moment in trying to maintain law and order, which is now
getting out of hand and sometimes needs harsh action.

Even the President is aware of this situation and according to
The Jakarta Post asked ABRI on Sept. 24 to act firmly. He said :
"Our campaign for reform is being marred by political actions and
activities which tend to put forward physical strength, through
demonstrations or other activities which obstruct norms, rules
and ethics. To the rank and file of ABRI I instruct you to take
preventive and proactive steps and actions, combined with a wise
but firm attitude, to immediately end the activities of either
individuals or groups who are openly working to keep the
situation in the country, uncontrollable, unsafe and unstable."

At this moment ABRI is the only coherent force based on good
organization, with a clear line of command and strict discipline.
This we cannot say of the political parties, even the mighty
Functional Group (Golkar).

At this moment we are witness to the fact that the community
is trying to dig up, all kinds of events, which can put ABRI in a
not too positive situation, particularly in relation to the cases
of Tanjung Priok, Aceh, East Timor, Irian Jaya etc.

Even young intellectuals in Jakarta join in the efforts to
ridicule ABRI. A few weeks ago we saw a demonstration in front of
Hotel Indonesia, carrying a banner (in English) saying "We buy
guns for you and then you shoot us". At the latest
demonstration, held in front of the House of Representatives
building there was a banner saying "We are not shooting targets
(according to a report in Suara Pembaruan, Sept. 24).

The community seems to forget the good humanitarian non-
military activities ABRI has performed, such as the ABRI Masuk
Desa (ABRI helps villages). This is a program where the soldiers
come into villages to do such activities as repairing roads,
bridges, school buildings, clean rivers to prevent floods, and
perform other civil works.

People, or let us say more precisely political parties, look
on ABRI as their rival in the Indonesian political game, which
of course is the wrong attitude.

In Merdeka on Sept. 28 we can read about the infiltration of
generals into political parties only to defend the dual function.
This was said by a certain Mr. Munir, an alumni of the faculty of
law at the Brawidjaja University. He further said that the steps
taken by retired generals to enter political parties will weaken
the political consciousness of the party, while actually the role
of political parties is to confront the dual function.

The attack is mostly aimed at the existence of the dual
function, which according to some extreme groups should be
abolished, or according to more moderate groups should be
diminished.

I always say that the dual function must not be seen as an
expression of power hungry military officers to play a
politically dominant role, but as a form of dedication and
service to the nation. ABRI has a saying: What is good for the
people is also good for ABRI.

If the people think that this dual function is not good, they
can say so through their representatives in the House of
Representatives.

Let us keep our heads cool and tackle pressing problems like
high prices of food stuffs and restoration of people's confidence
first and not waste our efforts trying to solve matters which can
wait.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta