ABRI in business

ABRI in business

Apart from its sociopolitical function, the trading and
business activities that have for years been conducted by ABRI --
either by individual members or by ABRI as an institution -- have
now come under fire. Such nonmilitary activities are now seen as
"deviations that must no longer be tolerated". Demands have even
come from several sides that ABRI abandon its businesses, or
maintain only its cooperatives.

A logical consequence of such a step, however, is -- and this
goes for the entire state apparatus, ABRI personnel included --
that the government must take the responsibility for providing
all its needs, including salaries and fringe benefits. ABRI
itself has already taken steps to streamline itself to become an
armed force that is not oversized, but at the same time still
effective -- a step that has not yet been taken by the civilian
bureaucracy. In any case, resolving this problem would involve
much spending, considering that ABRI's duties involve
safeguarding this republic and all its 202 million people.

-- Republika, Jakarta