New guards at ABRI
New guards at ABRI
If all goes well, President Soeharto will install Gen. Wiranto
as the new chief of the Armed Forces (ABRI), and Gen. Subagyo as
Army chief of staff at the presidential palace today.
Changes in ABRI's leadership may be as regular as clockwork,
but given the military's powerful influence and its role in
politics and in government, a reshuffle at the top always has
great bearing and significance for the country. This time is no
exception.
Several other top posts are also affected in this latest
reshuffle, most notably those of ABRI chief of general affairs
and ABRI chief of sociopolitical affairs. These changes are part
of a recurrent rejuvenation process within the military. With the
exception of Wiranto, all the top posts in ABRI and the Army are
now in the hands of graduates of the ABRI Academy (AKABRI) --
where the emphasis is on developing professional soldiers --
which succeeded the National Military Academy (AMN).
Gen. Wiranto comes from AMN's Class 1968, but at 50, he is one
of the youngest officers to hold the ABRI leadership baton. His
predecessors were certainly older when promoted to the post,
requiring the president to extend their services beyond the
mandatory retirement age of 55 for senior officers. There will
probably be none of that among senior officers if Soeharto
decides to keep Wiranto in his new post for the next four years.
Wiranto's appointment did not come as a surprise. He has risen
rapidly through the ranks these past few years, outshining his
peers. A stint as President Soeharto's adjutant certainly boosted
his resum, for it is a post given only to the most capable and
entrusted officers. But Wiranto rose to the challenge in all the
posts he has held since then, including as chief of the Jakarta
Military Command, chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command,
and as Army chief of staff.
Wiranto's leadership skills are also well tested outside the
Army. He chaired the second ad hoc committee during the recent
preparatory meeting of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
His committee drafted the decrees on the election of president
and vice president. With all these qualities, it is no wonder his
name has often been mentioned as a possible vice presidential
candidate. He probably would make a good vice president, but with
the announcement of his new appointment, it looks like his skills
and services are more needed in ABRI.
Wiranto may not have to wait too long before he is called on
to prove his leadership qualities. The sporadic riots that we
have seen in several towns these past few weeks will certainly be
his first priority as soon as he assumes the ABRI leadership.
These are not the usual riots which the military has become
accustomed to putting down. Some of these riots were sparked by
rising food prices and food shortages as a consequence of the
worsening economic crisis. These were riots caused by the failure
of the economy to provide the most basic needs of the people such
as food and jobs. Acting firmly alone would not solve the problem
and could even aggravate the situation. Wisdom and compassion are
also necessary in cases like these.
There is also the rising political temperature, prompted by
the economic crisis and the approaching of the MPR General
Session which will start March 1. The political situation in the
country has grown particularly tense these past few weeks, and
could even explode unless handled with care.
Rarely has the military been challenged so much on different
fronts like today. ABRI has, on many occasions in the past,
provided the decisive leadership and the initiative to pull the
nation out of its predicaments. Can it do it this time?
With a leadership that combines youthfulness, firmness,
experience and wisdom under Gen. Wiranto, one would certainly
hope so.