ABRI representatives in the legislature
ABRI representatives in the legislature
Through its chief of social-political affairs, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ma'ruf, the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) has shown its capability in reading the signs of the times and at the same time proven its chivalrous spirit. Only two days after President Soeharto instructed the Indonesian Institute of Sciences to examine the general election system and the social-political role of ABRI -- particularly the question of the number of ABRI members in the House of Representatives (DPR) -- Maj. Gen. Ma'ruf explained that ABRI was ready to reduce the number of its representatives in the DPR in case the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) should recommend it.
The short time span between the issuance of the President's instruction and the ABRI statement of readiness shows that the possibility of a reduction of military representatives in the DPR has been discussed before in ABRI circles. This possibility is all the more conceivable considering the fact that the officer who made the announcement was initiated only a week ago. The number of ABRI representatives in the DPR, in accordance with Law No. 22 of 1985, totals 20 percent of the total of 500, which is 100. Since the two minority political parties participating in the general elections have even fewer representatives, that number is considered too large.
We agree with those who believe that even if the number of Armed Forces representatives were to be reduced, the fact would not lessen the significance of ABRI's dual function. The President himself has emphasized that the LIPI evaluation will not touch on this question.
LIPI chairman Sofyan Tsauri has promised to regularly make public the findings of evaluation teams through the press. This is a laudable intention on the part of the LIPI chairman. Regular publication will broaden the discussion and the matter would thus be made a public debate, which is as it should be, being a matter of such importance to the nation.
-- Republika, Jakarta