Military presence in House 'counter to democracy'
JAKARTA (JP): Political observer Marsilam Simanjuntak has rejected the Armed Forces (ABRI) presence in the House of Representatives (DPR), contending its military tenets are at odds with the fundamentally democratic system of a legislature.
Speaking in a discussion on Monday on the relevance of ABRI's representation in the legislative body, he said military doctrine was based on commands, not consensus.
"Soldiers are responsible to their commanders, while the House members should be responsible to their constituents.
"So, ABRI's representation (in the House) is tainting the House since all members should be elected through a general election."
The day-long discussion was held by the National Mandate Party (PAN), one from among about 100 parties established in the political openness ushered in by Soeharto's resignation from the presidency on May 21.
Mandated allocation of ABRI seats in the House has been a highly contentious issue.
ABRI automatically receives 75 seats in the 500-member DPR since it does not participate in general elections.
According to a new draft law on the structure of the House and People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the DPR will comprise 495 legislators elected in the polls and 55 appointed ABRI members.
"No matter how many ABRI members are in the House ... 100, 75 or 30 will mean nothing as one member is already enough to represent ABRI," he argued.
Marsilam conceded the planned reduction constituted a goodwill gesture from the military to emphasize its reevaluation of its role in society.
Deputy House Speaker Hari Sabarno of the ABRI faction, who read a speech at the discussion, said the military was still needed in the House to act as a "mediator" between political parties.
It also served as a controlling influence among powerholders, he added. But Hari said ABRI would not object to being kept out of the legislative body if it was decreed by the People's Consultative Assembly.
Transformation would take time, he cautioned.
"You should not expect that things can change right away."
PAN leader Amien Rais shared Hari's opinion, saying that reduction of ABRI's dual-function -- which enables it to play a role in both security affairs and politics -- should be gradual.
"The party's platform says that ABRI should no longer be involved in politics," Amien said on the sidelines of the discussion. "But, we do not want any dramatic and revolutionary way in changing that."
ABRI is under mounting pressure to relinquish its role in politics following numerous revelations of serious human rights abuses during former president Soeharto's repressive 32-year administration.
A recent survey by the Center for the Study of Development and Democracy (CESDA) indicates that 46.5 percent of the 1,000 respondents in Jakarta, Medan and Surabaya said they did not believe ABRI was really protecting the people, compared to 39.1 percent who believed it was and 14.4 percent who abstained.
Minister of Defense and Security/ABRI Chief Gen. Wiranto said in a media briefing on Sunday that ABRI has realized that it had to conduct introspection to determine its most befitting role.
He said ABRI's security approach was no longer relevant and that it should embrace a new paradigm as part of the national system. (byg)