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.