Next president should be 'young civilian': Soemitro
Next president should be 'young civilian': Soemitro
JAKARTA (JP): Gen. (ret.) Soemitro, a former chief of the
defunct internal security agency, wants to see Indonesia have a
new "young civilian" president in 1998.
Speaking on Saturday at a seminar on the military's role in
national politics, Soemitro said that it was high time the 1945
generation quit politics and made way for the younger generation.
"Give way at the political forefront to the country's best
young, bright people to face the 21st century," he said during
the seminar organized by local political correspondents' club.
The 1945 generation refers to the political elite involved in
the struggle for independence that Indonesia proclaimed on Aug.
17. President Soeharto, a former army general, is a member.
Soemitro noted that "more than 80 percent" of the key
positions in the bureaucracy and the legislative council between
1983 and 1988 went to figures belonging to the 1945 generation.
The seminar, that also featured military analyst Indria
Samego, discussed the relevance of the Indonesian Armed Forces
(ABRI) in the current political climate.
Soemitro said a younger civilian president would facilitate
communication between the government and his/her aides -- and
thus promote greater openness.
"You can't expect good communication if the age gap between
the president and his aides is so wide," said Soemitro, now known
as a political observer and a businessman.
Soemitro was interpreting Soeharto's statement of last
Wednesday when the president reminded the public that he would
turn 77 shortly after the 1998 presidential election.
Soeharto made the comment during a ceremony proclaiming May 29
as National Day for the Elderly in Demak, Central Java.
"The most important thing for me is to complete my term until
1998. What happens after that is up to the People's Consultative
Assembly," Soeharto said.
He was responding to a request by an 80-year old participant,
urging him to run for election after his current term ends in
1998.
"But you should know that I'll be 77 then, and that is old.
I'll be elderly," he said.
Elderly people are defined in Indonesia those as over 60. The
official retirement age from the civil service and many private
companies is 55.
"President Soeharto's statement implied he would like to give
a younger person the opportunity to lead this country," Soemitro
said.
He added, however, that the President is not always
predictable. Soemitro recalled the 1977 general election when
Soeharto hinted he was willing to step down.
"Soeharto said that he was willing to withdraw from the
nomination if there was more than one nominee in the presidential
race," he said.
Soemitro said he would like to see a civilian at the helm
because a civilian would probably have a better vision to develop
Indonesia to face the challenges of the 21st century.
"Armed forces members are already very busy dealing with
security affairs and have little time to expand their vision,
especially in dealing with global issues," he said.
Soemitro said he was happy to hear President Soeharto
acknowledge that the prerogative who to elect as president lies
with the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
The 1,000 member MPR, the country's highest law-making body,
is currently dominated by politicians affiliated to the ruling
Golkar group.
It will convene in 1998 to elect a new president and to adopt
the 1998-2003 state policy guidelines, as well as review laws
proposed by the three recognized political parties.
Regarding the armed forces dual role in both defense and
politics, known as dwi fungsi, Soemitro said its philosophy is
"good" but its implementation is poor.
"We've frequently heard that our country is stable and secure.
Yet, it maintains rules and regulations which are the product of
the emergency period, during the early years of our
independence," he said.
"Such laws and regulations should be revoked or at least be
reviewed," he added.
He, however, said that the implementation of the dual function
should be reviewed at every election.
Meanwhile, Indria said that all armed forces members are
acceptable for any governmental position, including regent and a
gubernatorial posts, as long as they adhere to rules and
regulations of the government institutions.
"A regent with a military background has to comply with the
governor, not his superiors in the armed forces," he said.(imn)
JAKARTA (JP): Gen. (ret.) Soemitro, a former chief of the
defunct internal security agency, wants to see Indonesia have a
new "young civilian" president in 1998.
Speaking on Saturday at a seminar on the military's role in
national politics, Soemitro said that it was high time the 1945
generation quit politics and made way for the younger generation.
"Give way at the political forefront to the country's best
young, bright people to face the 21st century," he said during
the seminar organized by local political correspondents' club.
The 1945 generation refers to the political elite involved in
the struggle for independence that Indonesia proclaimed on Aug.
17. President Soeharto, a former army general, is a member.
Soemitro noted that "more than 80 percent" of the key
positions in the bureaucracy and the legislative council between
1983 and 1988 went to figures belonging to the 1945 generation.
The seminar, that also featured military analyst Indria
Samego, discussed the relevance of the Indonesian Armed Forces
(ABRI) in the current political climate.
Soemitro said a younger civilian president would facilitate
communication between the government and his/her aides -- and
thus promote greater openness.
"You can't expect good communication if the age gap between
the president and his aides is so wide," said Soemitro, now known
as a political observer and a businessman.
Soemitro was interpreting Soeharto's statement of last
Wednesday when the president reminded the public that he would
turn 77 shortly after the 1998 presidential election.
Soeharto made the comment during a ceremony proclaiming May 29
as National Day for the Elderly in Demak, Central Java.
"The most important thing for me is to complete my term until
1998. What happens after that is up to the People's Consultative
Assembly," Soeharto said.
He was responding to a request by an 80-year old participant,
urging him to run for election after his current term ends in
1998.
"But you should know that I'll be 77 then, and that is old.
I'll be elderly," he said.
Elderly people are defined in Indonesia those as over 60. The
official retirement age from the civil service and many private
companies is 55.
"President Soeharto's statement implied he would like to give
a younger person the opportunity to lead this country," Soemitro
said.
He added, however, that the President is not always
predictable. Soemitro recalled the 1977 general election when
Soeharto hinted he was willing to step down.
"Soeharto said that he was willing to withdraw from the
nomination if there was more than one nominee in the presidential
race," he said.
Soemitro said he would like to see a civilian at the helm
because a civilian would probably have a better vision to develop
Indonesia to face the challenges of the 21st century.
"Armed forces members are already very busy dealing with
security affairs and have little time to expand their vision,
especially in dealing with global issues," he said.
Soemitro said he was happy to hear President Soeharto
acknowledge that the prerogative who to elect as president lies
with the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
The 1,000 member MPR, the country's highest law-making body,
is currently dominated by politicians affiliated to the ruling
Golkar group.
It will convene in 1998 to elect a new president and to adopt
the 1998-2003 state policy guidelines, as well as review laws
proposed by the three recognized political parties.
Regarding the armed forces dual role in both defense and
politics, known as dwi fungsi, Soemitro said its philosophy is
"good" but its implementation is poor.
"We've frequently heard that our country is stable and secure.
Yet, it maintains rules and regulations which are the product of
the emergency period, during the early years of our
independence," he said.
"Such laws and regulations should be revoked or at least be
reviewed," he added.
He, however, said that the implementation of the dual function
should be reviewed at every election.
Meanwhile, Indria said that all armed forces members are
acceptable for any governmental position, including regent and a
gubernatorial posts, as long as they adhere to rules and
regulations of the government institutions.
"A regent with a military background has to comply with the
governor, not his superiors in the armed forces," he said.(imn)