Military must retain at least 70 DPR seats

Military must retain at least 70 DPR seats

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces said yesterday it needs between
70 and 75 seats to maintain the effectiveness of its
representation in the House of Representatives (DPR).

Armed Forces (ABRI) spokesman Maj. Gen. Syarwan Hamid said the
military needs to have five members in each of the House of
Representatives' 11 commissions, and between five and 10 members
in various working groups within the legislative body.

"ABRI's presence in the House is essential for the nation's
safety, for the safeguarding of (the state ideology) Pancasila
and the 1945 Constitutions," he told journalists after being
promoted from the rank of brigadier general yesterday.

Syarwan's comments relate to the ongoing debate over ABRI's
presence in the House. Critics have questioned whom ABRI
represents, given that it does not participate in elections.

Last week, President Soeharto told the Indonesian Institute of
Sciences (LIPI) to study ways in which the existing electoral
system could be improved, including a review of the appointment
of ABRI members to the legislature.

At present, ABRI reserves 100 of the 500 DPR seats. The
remaining 400 seats are contested in a general election, once
every five years, by Golkar, the United Development Party and the
Indonesian Democratic Party.

Syarwan, who is soon to become assistant to the chief of
ABRI's socio-political affairs, said that representation of
between 70 and 75 members is the "most effective" for the Armed
Forces in discharging its legislative duties.

Threats to Pancasila and the constitution may not be apparent
at the moment but could emerge if ABRI were not represented in
the House, Syarwan said.

"Our concern is Pancasila and the constitution," he said, as
quoted by the Antara news agency. "Our House members represent
not only ABRI but also the people."

Syarwan said ABRI was ready to hold discussions with
researchers from LIPI on its role in politics, should that be
deemed necessary. (pan)