ABRI wants dialog

ABRI wants dialog

In a speech to the Pepabri (ABRI veterans association) meeting on Saturday, the Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung said ABRI would promote a climate of dialog among societal groups in order to equalize views, perceptions and interpretations regarding the issues of openness, human rights and the dual role of the Armed Forces.

According to the Armed Forces commander, the public is becoming increasingly audacious at expressing their aspirations and their criticism of ABRI's socio-political role. He said that any positive and constructive criticism would be accommodated and used as input to improve ABRI's roles in society.

We welcome ABRI's efforts to promote this climate of dialog for various reasons. First, with the process of globalization an era of transparence and openness has emerged. Next, Pancasila Democracy is a form of democracy which favors consultation towards consensus. Furthermore, considering ABRI's role as a stabilizing and dynamizing force in development, stable and dynamic conditions can only be assured if a common base of perception exists between ABRI and the non-military regarding development as a realization of Pancasila.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta