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)