No priority for ABRI

No priority for ABRI

From Pikiran Rakyat

Are Armed Forces (ABRI) members special? They are in the legislative body in great numbers without being elected. The number of seats occupied by ABRI is special compared to those given to the people's representatives. Is it right to give ABRI this priority?

I think ABRI members are not above other community members. They carry out their duty for Indonesia's defense and security, are paid from the people's money and should not be given special treatment. Just look at them the way you view people in general. Every citizen is equal. Do not make a difference between ABRI members and the people in paying public transportation fees. Do not hesitate to make ABRI members pay when them make use of facilities. All citizens have the same rights.

Somebody has opined that ABRI members who work outside their field of defense and security do so to improve their welfare because their income is inadequate. But is such a condition limited to (retired) ABRI members? Is the welfare of civil servants and other people any better? In my opinion, there is no reason to give priority to ABRI members de facto because de jure they should be the same as other people.

The essence of this letter is to voice the hope that the Indonesian people should not feel that ABRI members are superior to the public in general. They should not be given special rights.

Let us support the freedom of opinion so that the people get information through the freedom of the press without infiltration from the authorities.

WINDHU TRESNA WULANDHANI

Sumedang, West Java