ABRI's role in politics expected to increase in future: Syarwan

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) chief of sociopolitical affairs, Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, is predicting that the military will play a greater role in sociopolitics in the next five to ten years.

"This expected increase is in accordance with the... policies of ABRI leaders," Syarwan was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday in Bali, where he briefed 169 officers to be nominated as ABRI representatives in the legislative councils in East and West Nusa Tenggara.

Syarwan told the officers that social and political issues will occupy more and more attention in the nation's life. On account of this, ABRI, in its capacity as a sociopolitical force, needs to be more professional and adjust to changes and demands.

In addition, ABRI officers need to be more sensitive, to be proactive and adapt themselves to any situation so that their presence in any institutions or agencies, or even among the people, will be deemed valuable.

"The presence of ABRI members should give an added value to... the political system of the Pancasila democracy," Syarwan said.

He pointed out that public discourses on the dual function of ABRI will increase along with the growing complexity of social and political issues. "We need a more responsive, communicative... approach in our efforts to implement ABRI's role as a sociopolitical force," he said.

"If ABRI is able to do this, then its members will always be welcomed, wherever they are," he said.

ABRI's Dwifungsi, the dual function of defense and politics, is among issues that resurface time and again as major topics of political discussion. One of the recent debates was provoked when some ABRI leaders reiterated that ABRI should not stay neutral in politics and that its members should choose Golkar as its partner.

And Syarwan said in October last year that in discharging its political role, the military has to take sides, and it has chosen Golkar because the two share the same ideals and objectives.

ABRI Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung also said then that as a defense and security force, ABRI remains neutral, but when it comes to politics, it supports Golkar, the ruling political group.

Syarwan, however, said yesterday that in line with the changing social and political situation, as well as the growing demand for ABRI to play a greater role in development, ABRI is now taking a back seat in both areas.

He cited the Javanese term of tut wuri handayani, a description of someone standing and observing from the rear while encouraging other people to go forward.

"Since its foundation, ABRI has always given other parties the opportunity to assume a greater role in national development," he said. "ABRI is always ready to create dynamics whenever there's stagnation, and to introduce stability as well as bridge various interests." (ste/swe)