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