Dual function of the Armed Forces
As Indonesians intensify their demands for total reform in all areas in the wake of Soeharto's resignation, pure democracy based on Pancasila and the Constitution of 1945 must be implemented. This will involve limiting the role of the Armed Forces in order that nobody gets the impression that the country is ruled in an authoritarian or totalitarian manner by the power holder.
During the transitional period, which may last until 2003, the dual function of the Armed Forces in Indonesia is still needed because it is expected to play a role in establishing stability in the community and also ensure that the public maintain their dynamism for the sake of democracy.
The leadership of the Armed Forces must introduce a fresh way of thinking and a new operational method, namely moving from taking preventive and repressive measures against the people and develop a craving for reform and the courage to fight against the Soeharto regime by allowing opportunities for reform to be carried out constitutionally. It is in fact the duty of the Armed Forces to safeguard decisions made by the government and by the House of People's Representatives/People's Consultative Assembly (DPR/MPR) in the context of implementing reforms in all areas.
However, it is now the right time for the very broad function of the Armed Forces to be reduced. The following may serve as examples of possible reductions:
1. The Armed Forces must take a neutral stance and be impartial toward any groups and political parties existing at present and in the coming election. It must be able to take a middle position and protect everyone.
The Armed Forces must stop fostering mass organizations usually believed to be attached to it. These organizations must be independent from the Armed Forces and must no longer get political and logistic support from the Armed Forces.
The Armed Forces need no longer mobilize forces in the community. Of course, it is always possible, for example, for wives of members of the Armed Forces and retired Armed Forces members to set up their own associations but only as long as these are established for welfare purposes.
2. The Armed Forces must reduce the number of its members assuming civilian positions, such as governors, district heads, mayors, directors general and so forth. These positions must be returned to civilians; Armed Forces members should take up civilian posts only if such posts are considered vulnerable if left to civilians or if there are no civilians capable of assuming such posts.
Armed Forces members must stop having such an arrogant attitude and doing what they please simply because they have the power to do so. They must now really take the people's interests into account.
During the Soeharto regime examples abounded of how certain members of the Armed Forces acted in ways not befitting them but got away unpunished. Of course Minister of Home Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid and Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto must now rid the Armed Forces of such members.
3. The Armed Forces must not take part in the coming general election to ensure their neutrality. The number of Armed Forces members in the DPR must be reduced to only a maximum of 10 percent of the total number of the DPR members, considering that the Armed Forces serves only to create stability and social dynamism.
4. Finally, the leadership of the Armed Forces must have the courage to take firm action against certain elements of their subordinates who were indisciplined and violated laws and human rights during the Soeharto regime.
SUHARSONO HADIKUSUMO
Jakarta