Graduates of Lemhanas defend its existence

JAKARTA (JP): Amid growing public scrutiny, graduates of the National Resilience Council (Lemhanas) defended the existence of the military think tank but proposed that it be placed under direct presidential authority and chaired by non-military personnel.

The chairman of the council's alumni association Lt. Gen. A.M. Hendropriyono said on Monday the proposal would be brought before President Abdurrahman Wahid next week.

The former minister of transmigration and resettlement of forest nomads lamented that many of the negative views of the council are due to public misperception.

"We need to redefine the image of the council so people know that it's not a military-run body. It was, after all, established by the president in order to serve the nation's interests," Hendropriyono said.

Hendropriyono, who also once headed the Indonesian military's (TNI) Staff and Command School, said the proposal would be conveyed to the President in conjunction with a planned two-day national conference that will be held by the council on March 20 to March 22.

Dubbed Finding a New Indonesia, the conference will aim at hearing opinions and views as to the future direction of the country.

Hendropriyono's comments come at a time when pseudo-military bodies are under intense scrutiny.

Last week the government announced that it was abolishing the Coordination Agency to Support the Strengthening of National Stability (Bakorstanas) and screening procedures known as Litsus.

The council was established in 1965 with a presidential decree and was designed as an institution providing leadership education to military and senior state officials.

Each year between 50 to 100 officials go through various courses held by the council.

Until 1984 the council was under the authority of the president, then it was put under the command of the Armed Forces (ABRI) commander.

Since then a two-star general always sits as governor of the council with a civilian official as deputy.

The council's top post has been vacant since Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar was appointed minister of transportation in October.

Separately, criticism of the council was heard again on Monday with political scientist Mochtar Pabotinggi suggesting that it be dismantled.

"I think other councils such as the National Defense Council should be abolished as it has only served the old regime in its efforts to monopolize power," Mochtar told reporters on Monday.

"DPR and MPR should be the bodies that discuss the strategies and plans for national resilience ... It is the people who have the power not the military," he added.

When asked about Hendropriyono's proposal regarding the idea of shifting the council's authority back to the President, Mochtar said: "I'd rather just abolish it altogether in order to settle everything once and for all".

But Hendropriyono remained defiant despite the criticism, denying suggestions that the proposal was made as a means of deflecting criticism.

"We just want a return to the council's origins. We aren't competing (with other state-funded bodies) to get the President's attention," he said.

However the council's deputy governor, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, conceded that by placing the council under the President much of the criticism could be allayed.

"If authority is returned to the President misinterpretation of our objectives will stop," Purnomo said. "It will remain a neutral body which can supply constructive ideas to support the government." (emf/dja)