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)