ABRI needs 'new format' for political role
ABRI needs 'new format' for political role
MAGELANG, Central Java (JP): Domestic and international
changes affecting Indonesia represent a challenge for the Armed
Forces to seek a "new format" for its involvement in the
political arena, according to a military observer.
"Bad decisions could bring disaster to Indonesia," according
to Salim Said in a discussion held here yesterday.
The Armed Forces (ABRI) applies a concept called Dwifungsi or
dual-function, which allows it to have a great say in the social
political affairs in addition to its security and defense role.
Over the years, many observers have criticized ABRI as
dabbling too much in politics and called for a revision in the
dual-function concept.
The discussion, opened by Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen.
Feisal Tanjung, was held to commemorate the 40th anniversary of
the Military Academy in Magelang. The other speakers were
military observer Maj. Gen. (ret) Z.A. Maulani, former ABRI chief
of sociopolitical affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid and scholar
Koento Wibisono Siswomihardjo.
"Wrong responses to the changes... could lead to a damaging
system of political leadership, and this could be fatal for both
ABRI and Indonesia," he said.
Salim described how successes in development programs at home,
along with the collapse of communism in other countries, have
encouraged Indonesians to be more outspoken in their demands.
They demand not only the fulfillment of their physical needs
and basic rights, but also the freedom of expression, for self-
determination and democratization.
"In political terms, these are called demands for
participation," said Salim.
Salim also described the civilian leadership as undergoing a
transition.
"Civilian leaders are not yet able to fully manage the country
alone, while the problems facing the state and the people are so
complicated that ABRI cannot deal with them singlehandedly
either," Salim said.
Maulani said a leader should be knowledgeable, competitive,
have integrity, and have been shaped through strong discipline
and a spartan life.
"This person should possess a combination of intellectual and
physical strength," he said.
"Without morality, intellectual and physical strength will
only give birth to a robber, while physical strength without
intellectual and moral strength means that this person is no more
than a water buffalo.
"If you had only moral strength without any intellectual and
physical strength, you might as well become a hermit, not an
officer," Maulani said. (23/swe)