Dual function updated
Dual function updated
The socio-political function of the Armed Forces (ABRI) has
continued to be a relevant topic as time passes. President
Soeharto said in his speech at the celebration of ABRI's 49th
anniversary yesterday that the military's role is still required
in the defense and security and socio-political domains.
Those who are well versed in the history and background of the
Indonesian military are quite aware that it has played a socio-
political role since the war of independence in the late 1940s.
This role was boosted when president Sukarno realized that many
political problems could not be solved without the military.
The New Order government has perfected the military's socio-
political role, transforming it into a dynamic motivating force,
as well as a stabilizing force. So far ABRI has carried out these
roles well, thus the President deems it necessary for its dual
function to continue in the service of the nation for some time
to come.
ABRI has always made its mission to serve the interests of the
people. This is the basis of its philosophy. The success of this
has been proven in the reality that although many foreign
observers view the Indonesian military as very powerful, it has
never been involved in any coup like the military forces of South
America, Africa, or the Middle East. The involvement of military
people in the political upheavals on those two continents and in
Iran under Shah Pahlevi serve as solid examples of soldiers
failing to defend the constitutions of their nations and their
peoples in order to support certain individuals or groups.
ABRI's internal cohesion and its working system are so
compactly intact that no outside forces can dictate their
ambitions to the military. Perhaps the best example of this was
when certain ruling political groupings wanted a colonel, Bambang
Utoyo, named to the post of army chief of staff, in 1954. This
proved futile due to the integrity of the system within the Army.
Judging from ABRI's experience and position as a force
uninfluenced by and independent of all outside political
entities, ABRI clearly has the responsibility to help create an
atmosphere in which the country's political structure can grow
healthily.
In light of this it is interesting to note a recent comment.
Former army chief of staff, Gen. (ret) Rudini said, as quoted by
Kompas daily yesterday, that ABRI is expected not to get involved
in the internal affairs of any particular political grouping, nor
to support any given candidate for its leadership.
Clearly, ABRI's socio-political function is as unique as it is
important. The more successful the Armed Forces is at its socio-
political role, the fewer duties it will have in that sector in
the future. As Brig. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, the military spokesman,
has promised: Once the political infrastructure is properly in
place and functioning well, ABRI's socio-political activities
will be significantly reduced.