Army oath application questioned

BANDUNG (JP): The highly-publicized, behind-the-doors reunion of the Army Staff and Command School (Seskoad) alumni ended here yesterday with a recommendation to evaluate the implementation of the soldiers' oath Sapta Marga.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono told reporters, denied access to the meeting, that the school's 1951-1961 graduates agreed to the need for evaluation of the seven-point oath.

Hartono refused to explain the recommendation in detail, but said the oath consists of the soldiers' pledge to be responsible patriots, obey superiors, and to keep their word.

Hartono argued that the first three points of the oath constitute the basis for the Armed Forces' sociopolitical function -- which enables it to play a non-military role in the community, while the remaining four form the basis for its security and defense role.

"It's unethical for us to tell the press about the recommendation of the army seniors before we submit to the Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief the results of this alumni meeting," he said.

The recommendation will be submitted to President Soeharto.

He said the Army headquarters welcome various suggestions raised at the gathering of some 200 officers, both active and retired.

"The suggestions will be used... to improve the Army's role in military and sociopolitical affairs, and to help anticipate the challenges of the 21st century," he said.

The reunion was planned last year. It was first proposed to give retired, outspoken generals, the opportunity to air their criticism of the Armed Forces.

Several retired generals used the meeting as a platform to call for evaluation of the Armed Forces' "dual-role" doctrine, known as dwi-fungsi, which allows military officers to hold non- military and political roles.

They argued that Indonesia is no longer in an emergency state, and many government positions such as governors or mayors, could be handed over to qualified civilians.

Hartono said the meeting had helped the participants "understand" the policies of current ABRI leaders.

"They could understand that we now face different challenges, a social and political situation which is different to their own in the past," he said.

But he conceded there was always the possibility of reviewing the doctrine so that it became more suitable for contemporary social and political situations.

"Changes, however, should never stray from the dictate of the Army's mission," he said.

He denied speculation that he had organized the meeting to solicit seniors' support for his own future career. He said he had not been seeking his seniors' blessing for career advancement.

Hartono was among a small group of people believed to have the potential to become Indonesia's next vice president.

The generals indicated that they had been engaged in heated debates in the closed sessions, especially regarding Army leaders' military and sociopolitical roles.

"A number of us had different ideas, but we managed to resolve the conflicting opinions because we sought only the improvement of the Army," said Maj. Gen. (ret) E.W.P. Tambunan.

"Despite differences, we understood each other," said Lt. Gen. (ret) Achmad Tirtosudiro. "There was no communication gap."

Also present at the reunion were former chief of the state intelligence agency Gen. (ret) Yoga Sugama, two former army chiefs of staff Gen. (ret) Makmun Murod and Gen. (ret) Poniman, former house speaker Lt. Gen. (ret) Kharis Suhud, and former Jakarta governor Lt. Gen. (ret) Tjokropranolo.

Those who missed the reunion included President Soeharto, former vice president Umar Wirahadikusumah, House Speaker Wahono, and former chief of the state internal security agency Gen. (ret) Soemitro. (imn)

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