ABRI cannot stay neutral, Syarwan says
JAKARTA (JP): As a social and political force, the Armed Forces (ABRI) cannot be neutral. It has to choose a partner with whom it can reach its ideals, a high ranking military official said yesterday.
"We need to have a partner in order to strive to achieve our goals," said Maj. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, the assistant to ABRI chief of social and political affairs.
ABRI's proximity with Golkar, the ruling political organization, does not mean that it is standing in opposition to the other two political parties, he told the discussion on "ABRI and Golkar" held by the Forum Dialog Wartawan Politik, a loose association of political journalists here.
Syarwan did not rule out the possibility that ABRI might someday form closer alliances with the other two political organizations. "In the future, it is possible that ABRI can have proximity with the political parties," he said.
He also said that there's no need for the public to read too deep into the question of ABRI's neutrality or its political affiliations.
He pointed out that ABRI, too, has supported the two minority political parties -- the Moslem-based United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).
Whether and when ABRI can establish as close a bond with PPP or PDI, as it has with Golkar, is long standing question and one that has often resurfaced. Syarwan said the topic is "seasonal" and usually emerges as general elections near.
However, he added that ABRI's proximity with Golkar or its distance from other political entities is not a question of "ideology".
Similarity
"Speaking about similarity of ideology (between ABRI and the political groups), theoretically, it was achieved a long time ago," he said. All mass organizations here have to establish the state ideology Pancasila as their foundation.
"ABRI's closeness with Golkar does not mean it's an enemy of the others," he said. "Historical facts are the reason behind ABRI's decision to form a partnership with Golkar."
"Let's not argue about it," he urged.
Syarwan admitted that there are adverse effects to an alliance with Golkar, which, he said, can be addressed in the form of social control.
Golkar chairman Harmoko said several months ago that the ruling political group has not become powerful as a result of ABRI support.
This statement sparked lengthy controversies, especially regarding ABRI's neutrality and the demand that it keep the same distance from Golkar as it does with the two minority parties.
Golkar was established in 1964 with the support of the Army.
During the New Order era of President Soeharto, Golkar has enjoyed large majorities in each election, winning at least two- thirds of the votes.
Until Harmoko, who is also Minister of Information, became Golkar chairman in October 1993, previous chairmen had all been retired military generals.
In the discussion, Syarwan also explored the question of stability and democratization. He pointed out that political stability rests on "the dominant power".
"But we want to see that whoever wins (elections), wins fairly."
He also said that there's no need to separate political stability and the quest for democracy. "There are always trade- offs between stability and democratization," he said. "What we need is a development of stability which still provides corridor for democracy and a democratization process which does not disrupt stability." (swe)