Military criticized for Golkar affiliation

Military criticized for Golkar affiliation

SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): Two top scholars from the
Diponegoro University joined the fray yesterday in criticizing
the Armed Forces (ABRI) for siding with the ruling Golkar party.

Nurdien HK and Susilo Utomo warned that the military's policy
will only increase "envy" among political groups and represent a
"setback" in the development of democracy in Indonesia.

Both political scholars question why ABRI does not instead act
as a neutral patron for all the three political organizations:
Golkar, the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and the United
Development Party (PPP), as it is supposed to be.

"If ABRI insists on patronizing Golkar and treating the PPP
and PDI like stepchildren, it risks worsening political envy
within society," Nurdien told The Jakarta Post.

The debate on ABRI's stand was triggered last week by Maj.
Gen. Syarwan Hamid, assistant to ABRI's chief of the socio-
political affairs department.

Syarwan argued that the military needed Golkar as a trusted
partner in channeling its political aspirations. "As a socio-
political force, ABRI cannot be neutral and it has to choose a
partner to achieve its goals," he said.

ABRI Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung yesterday reaffirmed the stand.

"As a defense and security force, ABRI gives equal treatment
to all political organization. But as a socio-political
organization, the big ABRI family gives its support to Golkar,"
he told reporters in Jakarta.

Golkar was founded by the military in 1964 to block the
growing influence of the Indonesian Communist Party, which was
banned after it was involved in a bloody coup attempt in 1965.

Nurdien said that Syarwan's reasoning is dubious because,
after all, Indonesia's political organizations agreed in 1985 to
have the state ideology Pancasila as their sole foundation. "This
means that the nation no longer has an ideological problem. So
why should we play favoritism?" he said.

"ABRI's siding with Golkar does not do any good to the growth
of democracy. This is in fact a setback for ABRI which claims to
support democracy," he added.

Susilo Utomo said the military should take a neutral stand so
that it can take corrective measures in case any of the political
organizations abuse the principles of Pancasila or the
Constitution.

"Syarwan Hamid's statement shows that the political elite is
not prepared to accommodate the growing demand for
democratization," he said.

With the remarks, the military apparently means to address a
perceived rift between civilians and military factions within
Golkar. "Unfortunately, Syarwan's statement sounds like the
military favors Golkar and is disregarding the PPP and PDI," he
said.

Political observer Amir Santoso said in Semarang that
criticism of the military's "dual function" in both defense and
politics has not abated.

In politics, he said, ABRI is accused of favoring one
political organization instead of remaining neutral.

According to Amir, the Indonesian public welcomes the
military's dual role in principle but its practical application
is the subject of much criticism. (har/pan)