ABRI should drop its political role
As Indonesia celebrates the 53rd anniversary of its Armed Forces (ABRI) today, political sciences lecturer Mochtar Mas'oed of Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta stresses the necessity to realign the political role of ABRI to accelerate the democratization process in the country.
Question: Demands are increasing for ABRI to reduce its sociopolitical role, while tension is mounting because of increased rioting and crime rates. How do you see this problem.?
Mochtar: We are now in a transitional period full of political uncertainty. But that should not necessarily mean that there will be chaos in the absence of a solid political role on the part of ABRI. The increase in social tension as the impact of the heightened preparations for the coming general election and the worsening economic crisis, should not be used as a pretext for the return of an authoritarian government.
Because it is not clear whether President B.J. Habibie is accepted by the people, the most urgent thing to do now is to establish political certainty by appointing legitimate leaders through a general election.
Q: How did ABRI become so deeply involved in politics?
M: In the 1950s, ABRI was disappointed by its failure to play a significant role in political development. It then set up a political party and introduced some measures. Pioneered by Gen. A.H. Nasution, ABRI, for example, formulated a People's Total War concept, which was then developed into the dual-function policy that allowed ABRI to play a political role in addition to carrying out its military tasks. This led to military intervention in civilian life.
Q: Recent statements by military leaders indicate that ABRI is willing to review its political role. Do you agree with that?
M: I appreciate the stance of ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto and ABRI's Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Let. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who have shown their commitment to democratization. The military's political role thus far has hindered the process of democratization.
ABRI must make the country's security and defense against external threats its top priority. The evidence shows that ABRI is now so weak it cannot protect the country's territories, such as expelling poachers from Indonesian waters. It must see that protecting the country against external threats is more important than, for example, dispersing a demonstration of workers who are fighting for their rights.
Q: Why has ABRI assigned its personnel to become governors, regents, mayors and directors of state-owned firms?
M: That is just a logical consequence of the dual-function policy and the military dominance in politics. That is why ex-president Soeharto could make his regime militaristic.
Q: How can we make our military more professional?
M: We must abolish the dual-function policy and eradicate the myth that ABRI is the only institution that can formulate the national defense and security strategy. It must be reemphasized that ABRI is a state apparatus that has to obey the wants of the people.
Military leaders must understand that the legitimation of ABRI's political role was the result of improper political engineering and its intervention in political affairs will always hinder democracy.
At the technical level, ABRI must abandon its commercial businesses, from which it can obtain money for its operational spending. Because it finances its own operations, many of its activities, including the recent absurd abduction of political activists by military intelligence members (of the Army's Special Force) and the killing of many people during military operations in Aceh and East Timor, cannot be controlled or checked by the House of Representatives (DPR).
Q: Then, how should we finance the military?
M: ABRI's expenditures must be covered wholly by the state budget, so that it can perform its tasks professionally and it can be held accountable for its actions.
ABRI should take responsibility for the country's security and defense against external threats, while tasks related to internal order should be left to the police.
Q: Now that the police force will be separated from ABRI, can the police carry out its tasks without any assistance from ABRI?
M: The police must improve its professionalism in enforcing the law, so that it can restore its credibility and regain people's confidence.
In the long run, the police force must decentralize its policies; local police commanders should be elected by local residents and police activities should be controlled by local administrations.
Q: Are you sure that civilian leaders can manage the country?
M: In the first few years of the republic, civilian leaders proved more competent than military officers. But as soon as the military, which was well organized, formally entered the political arena, the self-confidence of civilian leaders was systematically undermined, so that they felt unsure about their own power. That was why, for example, some university rectors and union leaders tended to invite soldiers to disperse demonstrations in their areas. (44)