Critical retired general welcomes chance for talks

JAKARTA (JP): Bambang Triantoro, a retired Army general and a staunch critic of the government, welcomed yesterday the chance to hold talks with the government for the nation's sake.

Bambang noted an increasing political will on the part of the government to invite its staunchest critics to official functions, Antara reported.

The latest invitation was extended to Gen. (ret.) Hoegeng Imam Santoso, a former National Police chief and member of the Group of 50. He attended a ceremony yesterday for National Police Day.

"All that is needed now is for the government to hold talks with its opponents," said Bambang, a member of the Supreme Advisory Council.

Bambang, who retired as a lieutenant general and once served as the Armed Forces chief of sociopolitical affairs, only recently began publicly criticizing the government.

Last year, he and other public figures founded the Yayasan Kerukunan dan Persaudaraan Kebangsaan foundation, a forum for public figures who criticized the government. At its inauguration, the foundation issued a statement of concerns.

The government has called the group a "rainbow coalition", according to Antara.

Bambang made no reference yesterday to Monday's remarks by the Armed Forces chief of sociopolitical affairs, Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, that the government was prepared to talk with its critics so long as they remained within the system.

Bambang said that talks would allow a convergence of views and perceptions on national development between the government and its critics.

In the past, public figures, including former government and military officials who are critical of the government have been struck off guest lists for official functions.

In April, the Army organized a reunion for 1951-1961 graduates of the Army Staff and Command School, including many critical figures, and a closed-door meeting between them and active officers.

On June 13, many retired servicemen were invited to the Armed Forces headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, to receive awards for helping establish the People's Security Forces in the late 1940s, which was the precursor to the Armed Forces.

Ailing retired general Abdul Haris Nasution, the first Army chief of staff, who is known for his criticism of the government, attended the ceremony. Nasution also turned up at last month's ceremony to transfer the Army chief of staff position from Gen. R. Hartono to Gen. Wiranto.

"We became vocal because we hold different opinions, and even the government and President Soeharto have admitted that there were people with different views and perceptions.

"Differences are normal and should not become divisive," Bambang said. "We're not doing this because we want to divide the nation, but because we too are concerned about national development."

He said it was "naive" to suggest that those critical of the government wanted to replace the state ideology Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.

"There may have been differences in interpreting the ideology and the constitution. But this is all the more reason why there should be a dialog," he said.

Admitting that it could be sometime before any meaningful talks took place, Bambang nevertheless said he hoped some accommodations could be made for the government's critics at the People's Consultative Assembly meeting in March.

"That's really the forum for people's sovereignty," he said.

The assembly is scheduled to elect a president and vice president and draw up guidelines of state policies for the next five years. (emb)