Civilian-military relations

Civilian-military relations

From Rakyat Merdeka

To the best of my understanding, now that civilian-military relations seem to be closer or more intimate, as can be observed from one TV program aired on May 8, 2001 presenting resource person MT Arifin and (ret) Maj. Gen. Syaiful Sulun.

Along with that, the question is why in the world there are still efforts to separate the military from civil society by creating disharmonious relations between the military and the people. This is seen from their modus operandi i.e. creating issues that are provocative, and far from efforts to seek a solution to improve the present uncertain conditions.

It is then undeniable that the present condition of military- civilian relations cannot be separated from the efforts made by the military circle to introduce internal reform, and rediscover the identity of the military as the people's soldiers and soldiers of struggle. In the field of politics the military has shown its sincerity in holding onto military politics, namely state politics, which is evident from the military's stance of not taking sides with any political party or group. All the military is concerned about is the interests of the people and the state.

None of us, Indonesians, wants the military to be far from the people. In fact, the people want to see military continue to be useful and to protect Indonesia.

DA SULISTIANI

Jakarta