ABRI reiterates its neutrality in polls

ABRI reiterates its neutrality in polls

JAKARTA (JP): Amid continued opposition to the Armed Forces
(ABRI) sociopolitical role, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo H.S.
made a fresh promise on Wednesday that the military would not
meddle in the forthcoming general election.

The general also said ABRI members were free to vote for any
parties and would face no sanctions for their political choices.

The general, who once served as a guard of former president
Soeharto, said ABRI would not become a mere political tool for
the government.

"There will be no bargaining (between political interest
groups and ABRI) in the next general election, because ABRI will
take a neutral position," the general said in a meeting with ABRI
leaders in Jayapura, Irian Jaya.

Meanwhile, in Yogyakarta, dozens of university students held a
rally to protest ABRI's role in politics, known as the doctrine
of dwifungsi or dual function, which the students said had
victimized many people.

"Go to hell with dual function," the students shouted during a
free speech forum at Gadjah Mada University on Wednesday
afternoon.

During Soeharto's 32-year rule, the families of ABRI personnel
were obliged to vote for Golkar. According to the law, active
military officers do not have the right to vote.

ABRI is facing mounting pressures to abandon its
sociopolitical role and become simply a defense force.

In the past, ABRI leaders gave support to Golkar. Political
analysts said that only during the 1992 general election was ABRI
relatively neutral, but they said this was because of the strong
rivalry at the time between then ABRI chief Gen. Benny Moerdani
and Golkar chairman Sudharmono.

"Apart from (making sure that it does not become) a power
tool, ABRI (also promises) not to rig the results of the general
election for the interest of certain parties," the general said,
as quoted by Antara.

Apparently reacting to complaints that many soldiers were
involved in human rights abuses in Irian Jaya and other regions,
the general vowed to punish any soldiers found to be guilty of
such offenses.

"It is not true that errant ABRI soldiers are not punished,"
he said.

During the meeting, attended by local tribe leaders, Subagyo
also said Irian Jaya would remain a part of Indonesia because it
has a different historical background from East Timor.

"It would be impossible for Irian Jaya to be separated from
Indonesia," he asserted.

Irian Jaya officially joined Indonesia in the early 1960s with
the full support of the United Nations. East Timor was integrated
to Indonesia in 1976, but the UN has never recognized the move.
(23/44/prb)