Feisal firm on ABRI's dual role

Feisal firm on ABRI's dual role

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) will stick to its dual
defense and sociopolitical function for the foreseeable future,
its commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung said yesterday.

Feisal told a seminar held by the military owned Angkatan
Bersenjata daily at the National Resilience Institute that the
dual functions were part of the consensus of the nation to which
ABRI had devoted its life.

"We don't want to overhaul the state's foundation. We don't
have to change our system and abide by foreign systems which are
completely different from ours," Feisal said.

Feisal's statements came in the wake of recent calls for ABRI
to reduce its political role and give civilians greater say. One
of the most recent calls was voiced by respected researchers at
the government-run National Institute of Sciences who suggested
that ABRI's reduced political role would herald democratization
and political reform.

The researchers' recommendation was part of a study
commissioned by President Soeharto in 1995.

Feisal said there had been a strong indication that the
mounting criticism to the dual-function doctrine was inspired by
a different way of thinking to that within ABRI.

"That's why a compromise has never been reached. Instead, the
difference (in opinion) has often resulted in premature
accusations about ABRI's motives (for its stance), not to mention
transparent opposition against our dual role," Feisal said.

The military's domination of non-defense fields began during
political turbulence of the mid-1950s when the government
declared a state of emergency following endless rifts among the
political parties. The government then decided to place military
officials in civilian posts.

Feisal denied that the Armed Forces was stuck in a period of
"historic romanticism." ABRI, he said, had always heeded
criticism from outsiders.

He admitted that ABRI needed to develop further in order to
cope with future challenges.

"However, discussion on ABRI's function in the coming years
should be focused on how to increase, instead of whether to
reduce or abolish, our existing political role", he said.

Development

Observer Salim Said accepted ABRI's historical integration
into both the defense and sociopolitical fields, but said that
history would always come to an end.

"I'm not saying when ABRI should step back, but it's important
to discuss how to employ ABRI properly to help the nation reach
its goals," Salim said at the seminar.

He said that giving ABRI nonmilitary functions had paid off as
seen in the successful economic development people are enjoying
now.

"ABRI formed the backbone of the country's development program
under the New Order administration. But development should now
rely more on a strong civil society."

Salim said that civilians had become more mature but still
lacked opportunities to step into the shoes currently occupied by
ABRI members. "Civilians should be given more chances to develop
their skills so that we can have a strong middle class," he said.

The institute's deputy governor, Juwono Sudarsono predicted
that ABRI would naturally and gradually reduce its dual function,
as civilian institutions emerged to take over administrative jobs
from the military.

"In the coming 10 years, ABRI should maintain its pivotal role
in the national development arena, because other organizations
are beyond its compare," said Juwono, also a professor at the
Jakarta-based University of Indonesia's School of Social and
Political Sciences.

When civilian institutions function as expected, ABRI's role
would be reduced to territorial matters.

The Armed Forces' Sociopolitical Affairs Chief, Lt. Gen.
Syarwan Hamid, agreed with Juwono, saying that ABRI's main duty
was to ensure civilian institutions work properly.

"ABRI's role has been on the decrease in quantity. We reach
our goals if civilian institutions can function as expected,"
Syarwan said.

Also speaking at the one-day seminar were Secretary of
Operations Development Lt. Gen. A.M. Hendropriyono, Kompas chief
editor Jakob Oetama, former Indonesian ambassador to Washington
D.C. Hasnan Habib and Assistant to the Coordinating Minister for
Political Affairs and Security Dasim Aman, who represented his
superior Soesilo Soedarman. (amd)