Bambang Triantoro defends stance

Bambang Triantoro defends stance

JAKARTA (JP): Bambang Triantoro, who is known as a critic of
the government, denied that outspoken retired generals were
striving to undermine the state ideology Pancasila and the 1945
Constitution when they criticized government policies.

Bambang, who is a retired lieutenant general, said here
Saturday that the criticism should be treated as positive input
for the 1998 People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) session.

"I am still a soldier, who will always uphold the Pancasila
and the 1945 Constitution," he said. "All the criticism and
expression of concern are meant as input."

"We do not oppose the government. We only voice our opinions
and aspirations outside the formal government system," he said.

"No longer in service, we can only share our opinions to the
public, as we do not have formal institutions to channel our
aspirations," he said.

"The general assembly of MPR is the right moment and arena to
discuss the weaknesses and flaws of the ongoing development
program. It's there that policies and guidelines for the next
five years' development plan are decided."

Bambang is chairman of the National Brotherhood Foundation, an
outspoken organization. Among its members are deputy chairman of
the National Commission on Human Rights Marzuki Darusman and
former house speaker Kharis Suhud.

President Soeharto recently reproached some retired generals,
who have become outspoken critics of government policies,
although they were silent when they were in active service.
Soeharto warned that the generals' stand was "inconsistent" in
relation to Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.

Bambang said the government's "cynical" stance on the retired
officials' concern grew from a communication gap between the
government and the people.

"Misunderstandings over state affairs would not exist if this
gap were closed," he suggested.

Retired senior military figures such as Gen. Abdul Haris
Nasution, and former chief of the now defunct Internal Security
Agency, Gen. Soemitro, as well as former Armed Forces chief for
sociopolitical affairs Lt. Gen. Harsudiono Hartas have been
described by observers as "outspoken". (imn)