Armed Forces and reform
The present era of reform seems to be putting the Armed Forces (ABRI) to a difficult test. It must now shoulder a heavy task as the reform drive brings with it democratic values and universally recognized human rights. Hopefully, ABRI will be more matured now and members will translate into the reality of their daily lives the Sapta Marga (seven article oath) so that the oath will not be simply said rote during their morning roll call. In essence, ABRI must never feel that it contains "special citizens".
In fact, in view of its sociopolitical role both at the seat of the government and in the regions, ABRI could have detected the aspirations, ideas and turmoils prevailing/occurring before May 13 and May 14. Unfortunately, it was, at the time, too occupied with political games to pursue this. At that time, it was clear that ABRI had adopted an attitude of "as long as it pleases the leader" toward state leaders by, for example, conferring the rank of a five-star general on an individual already earning too many decorations and praises.
The late supreme commander-in-chief Sudirman once correctly said that a soldier would remain a soldier although the cabinet would change five times a day. This comment is easily understood, even to a senior high school student. Nowadays, community members demand that members of ABRI -- particularly graduates of the Armed Forces academy and Police science higher learning institute -- that they should apply the knowledge and science they have acquired to deal with acts of looting committed by certain community members who have resorted to these acts out of their desperation in the face of soaring prices of basic commodities.
These officers should not be tempted to seek only political positions from which they can enjoy privileges and facilities from the state (my hair stood on end when in a 1997 campaign speech by a former military district commander used the term "killing ground" when discussing his strategy to ensure a certain sociopolitical organization win the election).
DIDI MARSUDI
Sukabumi, West Java