Analysts at odds about ABRI seats and democracy
Analysts at odds about ABRI seats and democracy
By Santi WE Soekanto
JAKARTA (JP): As the House of Representatives deliberates on a
bill to reduce the number of military appointees serving in the
legislative body, political analysts are at odds on the
significance of the move towards democracy.
J. Kristiadi of the Center for Strategic and International
Studies said the move doesn't necessarily signify the emergence
of a more democratic political climate.
Kristiadi, who has been studying the role of the Armed Forces
(ABRI) in society, said the move may only be a "symbolic" gesture
for democratization.
Only by improving the procedures and implementation of general
elections can the country have more democracy, he said.
Priyatmoko, a political scientist at the Airlangga University
in Surabaya, also dismissed the argument that democracy would
flourish once the bill is endorsed by the House.
"If we use that logic, then the fewer military representatives
in the house, the greater the democracy is," he told The Jakarta
Post by telephone yesterday.
Priyatmoko said the number of ABRI officers serving in the
house has no real bearing on democracy. If ABRI is concerned with
democracy, then it should not remain in coalition with Golkar,
the dominant faction in the house, he added.
Fachry Ali of the Institute for Social and Economic Research,
Education and Information, however, believes that the move would
usher in greater democracy in Indonesia.
"Yes, it would mean a more democratic climate," Fachry said.
"All this time, nobody could say anything about the ABRI position
at the house. The proposal to reduce the military representatives
signifies a new balance in the domestic political equation."
Fachry believed the new balance was brought about by various
changes and shifting positions in the ruling elite.
He attributed the change, which he deemed favorable, to the
leadership of ABRI Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung and Army Chief of
Staff Gen. R. Hartono.
He said the two generals have become increasingly aware that
the military should gradually take a backseat in politics and
encourage civilians to take over social political leadership.
Interviewed separately, the experts were commenting on the
government-sponsored bill to cut the representation of ABRI in
the house from 100 to 75. Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie
S.M. has said that one rationale behind the bill was to provide
more room for the establishment of a "government of the people".
The bill, meant to be a revision of a 1969 Law on the
Structure and Composition of the House of Representatives and,
consequently, of greater political procedures, has not been
received with enthusiasm by the two minority parties in the
house.
The United Development Party and the Indonesian Democratic
Party believe the bill, if passed, would not bring significant
political changes.
The two parties demanded a more comprehensive improvement,
including in the procedures and implementation of general
elections.
Kristiadi agreed with the criticism, and suggested that the
government involve independent elements, such as non-governmental
organizations, to supervise the holding of the elections.
He said Golkar, with its victories in the past five general
elections, should be confident enough to be supervised by more
independent bodies.
This practice, he said, would ensure greater democracy than
merely reducing the number of military seats in the house.
Priyatmoko believes the appointed military representatives in
the house should be entrusted with the task of protecting "the
minority from the domination of majority" and the fair contest of
the general elections.
"Reduced numbers notwithstanding, the appointed military
personnel in the house should protect the minority
representation," Priyatmoko said. The government proposal to
reduce the military seats, he said, should be looked at as an
opportunity for "self-correction".
Fachry said that with the greater number of parties seeking
positions in the political elite, including Moslems grouped in
the influential Indonesian Association of Moslem Intellectuals, a
shift in power occurs.
"This shift in the elite political composition encourages a
search for new balances," he said. "The reduction of ABRI
personnel in the house signifies this search."