Former officer warns of military return to politics
JAKARTA (JP): Hasnan Habib, a retired Army lieutenant general, warned here on Tuesday of the possibility of a military comeback within the nation's political arena if politicians remained immature and unprofessional.
"The higher the level of immaturity among politicians, the greater the military's chances of returning to the political arena," Hasnan said at a book launch. The two books, Militer Indonesia dan Politik (The Indonesian Military and Politics) and Wawancara tentang Tentara dan Politik (Interview about the Military and Politics), were written by military observer Salim Said.
Hasnan, a former Indonesian Military sociopolitical affairs chief and former Indonesian ambassador to the United States, urged political parties to appoint their professional colleagues within strategic positions at state institutions, with the aim of upholding democracy and creating a strong civil society amid the current reform era.
He said that, due to the immaturity and lack of self- confidence among the nation's civilian political leaders, the military had again been invited to interfere in political affairs, notwithstanding efforts to phase out the institutions's dual function in the defense and sociopolitical sectors.
To illustrate the military's interference in politics, Hasnan referred to the Special Session conducted by the People's Consultative Assembly in July, which led to the downfall of Abdurrahman Wahid's presidency.
"During the Special Session, the civilian elite (in the People's Consultative Assembly) invited the military to help them win the game. This means the civilians have allowed the military to return to politics," he said, as quoted by Antara.
According to Hasnan, the military should continue reverting to its original function of defense and respect civil supremacy in politics.
Salim Said said that, in line with civil supremacy, the military should comply with the House of Representatives, whose members should all be elected by the people through general elections.
He said that there is still a long way to go before Indonesia achieves civil supremacy.
In a separate discussion on the civilian-military dichotomy, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) deputy chairman Radjakami Sembiring Meliala said that, despite the military's sins in the past, political parties and large group organizations could learn much from the military in terms of recruitment and promotion.
"Apart from its sins in the past, the military is still the leading organization in personnel recruitment, career development and promotion, which are not found in any political parties or other mass organizations," he said.
Radjakami, who was the former chief of the Cenderawasih Military Command overseeing Irian Jaya and Maluku, said the military had a long-established and strictly adhered to system of promotion, linking the lowest group, company, battalion or force to the top position within its organization. (rms)