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