Military 'does not want' authoritarian government
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's new government, to be established in November, must be strong but not authoritarian, Minister of Defense and Security/Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Wiranto said on Saturday.
Addressing a seminar titled Establishing a New Indonesian Government, Wiranto said the military was in favor of a strong new government, which could protect its people and survive the destabilizing effects of the crisis.
"A strong government is not identical with an authoritarian one.
"A strong government is in a sense one that is able to provide services and protection to the people, and one also able to survive the crisis," he said at the Gran Melia Hotel in South Jakarta.
He said a strong government must win support from a strong "society", which included political parties, non-governmental organizations, interest groups, pressure groups and the media.
"A strong government supported by a strong society will become a clean and good government," he said.
Wiranto pledged the military's commitment to supporting ongoing reform measures and upholding democracy, saying that the military had made several adjustments in its roles as it entered the 21st century.
"The military not only has to support the reform movement but also has to be part of its process ... The military is challenged to develop and uphold democracy, following strong criticism in the past over its support for the state's leader."
He said the military was open to constructive criticism and new concepts concerning the role it should play in the future.
The military's image has been badly tarnished following its involvement in politics during the 32-year New Order administration and reports of human rights violations in its military operations in Aceh, East Timor and Irian Jaya.
Pledge
The military chief pledged that the military would maintain its neutrality in politics, support peaceful solutions to all national problems, respect the law's supremacy and safeguard the democracy process.
"The military will no longer side with the ruler, or the ruling party, but will maintain an equal distance to all components of the nation.
"To ensure democratization, TNI must participate in safeguarding the reform movement and the national political agenda."
He said the military would support peaceful solutions through dialogs and in the future help settle friction between policy- makers and political parties.
He said the military would also protect democratization from internal and external threats.
Wiranto, however, emphasized that in the steps toward democracy, all components of the nation should avoid the trap of liberal politics, a position that could lead to detrimental implications for national unity.
"Democracy should not develop into liberalism as it could damage national unity. Everybody has his or her own freedom that he or she has to exercise in the context of national unity," he said, adding that the nation's components should also be responsible for maintaining national unity.
"The future of the nation and the struggle toward democracy will rest with us. We have a major responsibility to safeguard national unity on our way to a democratic, secure and prosperous New Indonesia."
He said democracy should be developed within the context of local cultures and existing values.
"We are of the same opinion that freedom is a trademark of democracy but it should also be accountable. Without moral and cultural responsibilities, democracy will raise a conflict of interest among the nation's components."
Wiranto also warned the political elite to refrain from practicing sectarianism in politics, saying there was a high threat of disintegration within Indonesia.
"It will be very difficult to prevent ethnic or religious violence and even national disintegration if the political elites continue to exert sectarianism in politics." (rms)