ABRI yet to prove 'its reform is beyond rhetoric'

ABRI yet to prove 'its reform is beyond rhetoric'

DEPOK, West Java (JP): Political science lecturers at the
University of Indonesia are so far not convinced that the Armed
Forces' reform promises are anything more than rhetoric.

They accused the Armed Forces (ABRI) of being "half-hearted"
in its reform drive since its commander, Minister of Defense and
Security Gen. Wiranto, announced their intentions last year.

Maswadi Rauf, a lecturer in the university team presenting its
political analysis and predictions, said, "ABRI's half-hearted
stance is evident in the still unresolved rights abuses cases. Of
course, any investigation of the cases would touch on the Armed
Forces' many interests."

"The Armed Forces' intentions in Aceh, Irian Jaya and East
Timor are clear. They are guarding over areas which are strategic
for economic or political reasons," Maswadi said.

Investigation into cases "would not touch the center of
power," the team said, citing the ongoing trial of members of the
Armed Forces special forces on charges of abduction of activists.

Critics say the trial is a farce as the prosecution said the
one defendant, a mayor, acted on his own initiative.

ABRI's reform which was supposedly intended to disassociate
itself from politics "has been rhetorical rather than practical,"
Valina Singka Subekti, director of political studies at the
school said. The team added that, gauged by its actions, the
Armed Forces was still attempting "to maintain the status quo."

At the ABRI headquarters on Friday, Wiranto said that the
model for a reformed Armed Forces "needs further study... to
enable it to respond to the nation's future."

He was addressing a ceremony to transfer the post of the head
of the Armed Forces Command School from Lt. Gen. Johny J.
Lumintang to Maj. Gen. Agus Widjojo.

On ABRI's inconsistency, the university team cited the
comments of chief of territorial affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono, who said ABRI members who wished to hold civilian
positions, such as those in the government or legislature, would
now have to let go of their military membership. This was yet to
be seen in reality, the team said.

Also cited was ABRI's reluctance to give up its 55 seats in
the legislature. "If they insist on maintaining their present
status, conflicts between civilians and the military will be
unavoidable," Valina said.

The team noted that reshuffles in the Armed Forces would
continue, to clean ABRI of "indisciplinary" members. Frictions in
ABRI have suspected to be reflected in several riots and student
shootings since last year, the team said.

It was important to ABRI "that the elected president would be
one who supports the military's continued role in political
decision making," the team said.

If ABRI felt threatened, Maswadi said it would be in their
interest to nominate Wiranto as president. "But this would depend
on bargaining with other forces such as Golkar, who will nominate
Akbar Tandjung, (President) B.J. Habibie himself and Islamic
groups."

Separately J.B. Kristiadi, from the Centre for Strategic and
International Studies (CSIS), said "there is a leadership crisis
in ABRI and this explains why there were so many cases of past
human rights abuses which still have not been uncovered." (edt/byg)