Military 'does not want' authoritarian government

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)