Generals want ABRI to retain political role

Generals want ABRI to retain political role

JAKARTA (JP): Two retired army generals agree on the need for
the Armed Forces (ABRI) to ease its grip on politics but stress
that the military should be allowed to retain a political role.

Solichin G.P., a retired lieutenant general who served many
years in the State Secretariat until 1993, dismissed suggestions
by some scholars that some of the problems facing the country
have roots in the dominant role of the military in the
government's day to day affairs.

Sayidiman Suryohadiprodjo, a retired lieutenant general and
military strategist, also defended ABRI's "dual function" policy,
stressing that the military has the discipline necessary to help
the nation deal with its increasing challenges.

The role of ABRI in politics and government was one of the
topics at a seminar yesterday to review ways of promoting greater
economic equality and justice in Indonesia.

The one-day seminar was organized by the Foundation for
Information and Study (Yayasan Lintas Informasi dan Pengkajian),
of which Solichin is a patron.

Solichin admitted that part of the blame lies in the tangled
bureaucracy which is hampering coordination efforts.

However he also criticized members of the bureaucracy who seek
personal gain from their positions as one of the biggest
obstacles to achieving greater equality.

"Decisions are not made pragmatically, but more on the basis
of emotion and personal greed," he said.

Stressing that the military's political role should be
retained, he concurred with the view that ABRI should make way
for civilians to assume some of the important government posts.

Solichin, who served for a long time as President Soeharto's
secretary overseeing the implementation of the government's
development programs, said blaming either ABRI or civilians would
not solve the country's problems.

Sayidiman, former governor of the National Defense Institute,
said the military presence in politics is still necessary in
Indonesia to promote greater national discipline.

He agreed that the armed forces should try to make its role
less conspicuous because a show of force "is no longer acceptable
to the more educated members of our public."

He said ABRI could not be confined to the barracks because
they had a share in the independence fight in 1945.

"It's not power but responsibility," Sayidiman explained as
the motivation for ABRI's continued role in politics.

He said however that the military officers should only be
appointed to political positions and not administrative ones in
the government.

The job of administration, he added, should be left to
professional civilians.

"It would be unwise to show the world that the military still
holds many positions ...(as if) Indonesia is still in a state of
emergency," he said.

Sayidiman argued strongly for an active ABRI role in politics
given that national stability is still vulnerable at a time when
there is a huge disparity in wealth in the population.

He was referring specifically to disparity between the rich
and the poor in Indonesia, and also between the underdeveloped
eastern provinces and the developed west.

Sayidiman said the military is not blind to accusations of
corruption and collusion involving its own members.

"We too are hurt," he said.

Legislator Sri Bintang Pamungkas of the United Development
Party (PPP), who has been arguing for less of a military role in
government, told the seminar yesterday that the nation had been
"brainwashed" into accepting the military's superiority and
civilian's inferiority for the last 25 years.

This, he said, has prevented the recruitment of civilians to
occupy important political positions. (anr)