ABRI should take part in elections, says gen. Hasnan

SURABAYA (JP): A respected military intellectual has suggested that Armed Forces (ABRI) members take part in general elections.

Lt. Gen. (ret.) Hasnan Habib said it was time to change the law that bars ABRI members from casting their votes in elections.

ABRI members never vote in New Order government's elections in return for an allocated 75 seats in the House of Representatives, down from 100 since the last election.

Participation in general elections would allow ABRI to carry out the well-known Dwifungsi, or dual-function in both defense and politics, in a more democratic way, Hasnan said.

"Should they (ABRI members) be elected it would mean that the dual-function does have legitimacy. If not, it would mean that the dual-function does not have legitimacy thus showing that something is wrong in the implementation of the doctrine", he said.

Hasnan was speaking here yesterday at a seminar on the role of ABRI in politics organized by Dharmapena Indonesian Foundation.

Hasnan argued that the Armed Forces in any democratic country were allowed to vote, reminding the audience that ABRI members once had the right to vote. The Armed Forces voted in the country's 1955 general election.

Hasnan said if military leaders were apprehensive that ABRI would split once its members could take part in elections it was an indication that leaders were not quite sure of the forces solidity.

"If ABRI is determined to exercise a democratic practice of its dual-function, its members should be allowed to contest in the election," he said, adding that if their representatives were elected it would demonstrate the social legitimacy of the dual function.

Other speakers at the seminar were Gen. (ret) Rudini, political scientist Yahya Muhaimin and Army chief of staff Gen. R. Hartono.

"In determining the country's democratization, ABRI will have to first change its socio-political dual function's implementation in such a way that it really reflects democracy," said Hasnan.

Hasnan said that in order to make ABRI's efforts credible, ABRI leaders would have to understand and commit themselves to democracy, without being carried away by fantasy and the nation's own past glory.

"ABRI should not, for instance, interfere with the mushrooming of non governmental organizations let alone antagonize them," he said.

He also pointed out that ABRI should not be arrogant with its power let alone abuse it.

"Don't ever let the cases like Marsinah, Nipah, Jenggawah, or Dili occur again. The nation trusts the control of fire arms to ABRI not for killing their own people no matter how big their mistakes are," he said.

Hasnan said that ABRI should never take sides in industrial disputes or political party disputes.

"Political parties should be helped to stand on their own and to become capable of solving internal problems alone. If there are any security problems, the police should take care of them," he said.

Hasnan and Gen. R. Hartono agreed that ABRI should work together with social and political institutions.

"ABRI should never monopolize developmental efforts and security affairs. But it should be the work of all forces in the nation including journalists," said Hartono.

The seminar was attended by about 500 participants. (15/26)