ABRI to return to 'Dharma Pusaka 45'

ABRI to return to 'Dharma Pusaka 45'

From Suara Karya

I recently came across a copy of Dharma Pusaka 45, published
by the Ministry of Defense and Security in 1972. The book
contains the results of the third seminar of the Army in 1972. I
find the book very interesting because its contents are highly
relevant to the current economic, political, legal and moral
crises. It also mentions what role the people expect the Armed
Forces (ABRI) to play.

Page 12 mentions: The value inherent in the Indonesian
National Army as a Fighting Army is to identify itself with the
nation and to be always in the front line to save it in times of
crisis. The identity of the TNI as a fighting army, in line with
the history of struggle of ABRI, also applies to the identity of
ABRI as a whole.

I have concluded that ABRI must at any time give precedence to
the nation above the interests of the power elite, the individual
or whatever group. This book gives the impression that the values
of dwi fungsi (dual function) and Dharma Pusaka 45 in fact demand
of the ABRI leaders to take a more independent stance in the
people's interest. They should not only say "Yes" to the will of
the power holder.

Therefore, if society demands economic, political and legal
reforms, ABRI should not stop at mere normative, standard
replies, like their support for gradual, continuous and
constitutional reform. ABRI's stance must be more concrete on the
form of reform, the stages needed to reach it, and the time limit
for bringing a substantial reform program to a conclusion.

It must also be clear what the commander of the Armed Forces
recently meant by saying that ABRI supported 'kemapanan'. Does it
mean that ABRI supports the establishment and the status quo?

It is time for ABRI to independently clarify again their
commitment to the values of Dharma Pusaka 45.

H. SATRIO ARISMUNANDAR

Jakarta