Armed Forces and reform

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