ABRI should drop its political role

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)