ABRI 'must trim political role', says Yudhoyono

ABRI 'must trim political role', says Yudhoyono

JAKARTA (JP): Retired and serving senior ranking officers in
the Armed Forces (ABRI) have acknowledged that the military must
reduce its dominant role in politics in order to help promote
democracy and the creation of a civil society.

Armed Forces Chief of Socio-Political Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono said that ABRI should play a constructive role
in efforts to create a climate conducive to the development of
democracy.

He said the Armed Forces should pay heed to observers who have
argued that the military's overbearing role in politics was one
of the main reasons for Indonesia's slow progress toward a civil
society and democracy.

"That means ABRI must reduce its role in politics to a minimum
and step back to give civil society more leeway," he said in a
paper distributed to participants at a seminar on civil society
at Trisakti University here yesterday.

Susilo could not deliver the speech to the seminar in person
because he is a member of the Officers Honor Council (DKP) which
convened yesterday to look into the case of the alleged
involvement of military officers in the recent abduction of
political activists.

Susilo maintained that the Armed Forces would accept a
reduction in its political role in accordance with the
empowerment of civil society.

"ABRI will be part of the process of empowering civil
society," he said.

He claimed that adjustments to the Armed Forces role in
society would become apparent through the development of a new
paradigm of indirect involvement and "constructive sharing" in
the nation's political landscape.

"These new concepts will result in ABRI playing a proportional
role in politics in line with existing demand," he said.

Hasnan Habib, a former military chief of socio-political
affairs, said during the seminar that the Armed Forces should use
its strategic political role to ensure that the government
facilitated the growth of a civil society.

"ABRI as a strong socio-political organization could play an
important role by pressing the government and encouraging the
people to uphold democracy and a civil society," he said.

However the Armed Forces should first try to restore its
reputation which has recently been shattered by revelations of
military involvement in serious human rights abuses.

Hasnan pointed out that the Armed Forces must ensure that its
role is widely understood by the public and that it adheres and
respects the authority and supremacy of civilian rule.

Even control of the dual role of the Armed Forces, which
legitimizes its involvement in both security and politics, must
rest with the people, he argued.

"If ABRI wants to improve itself then it should accept all
decisions made the House of Representatives and the People's
Consultative Assembly which are the embodiments of the people's
sovereignty. It should give up the dual function and let the
people decide on its future," he said.

Hasnan, also a former ambassador to the United States, was
pessimistic about the prospects for civil society in the country,
and said that many problems had still to be overcome.

He said the nation was facing a systemic crisis that has
caused all aspects of life in the country to deteriorate.

"Indonesia is not only facing a political, economic and legal
crisis but also a moral, and ethical crisis that will require a
long time to overcome," he said. (rms)