Observers warn of possible military comeback in politics

JAKARTA (JP): Observers warned on Thursday that civilian politicians' weaknesses in leading the country will provide the opportunity for the military to reclaim their place as the country's leaders.

"The civilian politicians' weaknesses will lead the military to enter the political arena again. Then they (the military) will create a constitutional basis for their involvement," military observer Salim Said said in a seminar to commemorate the 80th anniversary of national hero T.B. Simatupang.

Salim said it is the civilian political elite that should determine the role of the military.

"It is impossible to expect the military to have internal reforms, so the country should determine its role through the People's representatives," he said.

"However, by observing the current House of Representatives (DPR), I am afraid that no such thing will happen," he added.

Salim further said that it is important to determine the role of the military, as part of the democratization process.

Another military observer Hasnan Habib, echoed Salim, saying that it is impossible to expect the military to be professional and be under civilian authority if members of the political elite continue to fight each other.

"It is impossible to make the military a professional institution as long as the political elite, that should have shown their competence and capability, continue to fight each other," Hasnan said in the same seminar.

He underlined that the only passage to democratization is through the establishment of a civil society, which cannot happen if the military still holds a large proportion of the country's leadership.

"The military is the most undemocratic institution, as its members always act according to the chain of command," Hasnan added.

Meanwhile, military observer M.T. Arifin said on Thursday that the Indonesian Military (TNI) "is already itching to play a larger role to settle the country's problems in response to current political turbulence."

"They (the military) are uneasy with the current political situation and they are itching to do something and play a role," Arifin told a session with the Community for Social Transformation (Katalis) in East Jakarta.

"I think, although they are 'gradually reducing their social and political roles' it is clear that now the image of the military being powerful and having a stronger grip (in social and political roles) has been vividly shown," Arifin said.

The public must accept the fact that the military is the most organized structure, while civilians are still struggling to form a civil society, he said.

"So the civilian elite must be wise and smart in playing their cards. They have to find a balance to create a proper and suitable civilian-military relationship," Arifin said.

Chief of the Golkar faction at the House of Representatives (DPR) Syamsul Mu'arif further said that "the military is being held hostage in their own country".

"Currently there are insufficient laws and political umbrellas for their position, while conflicts are raging everywhere.

"So far, the DPR is still processing the State Emergency bill .. and until then the President is the sole person who can declare a state of emergency in which the military is obliged to take over. Imagine what Gus Dur (President Aburrahman Wahid) can do.

"Under such a situation the President can dissolve the legislature and that is an unthinkable possibility. Therefore I urge civilian politicians to be cautious and not be over- enthusiastic, because what they do can determine our fate," Syamsul said.

TNI chief of territorial affairs Lt. Gen. Agus Widjojo further told the session that TNI has been gradually "saying goodbye to its social and political roles, among others, by not taking initiatives related to political decisions."

"Now, we cannot act without the approval of civilians (rulers).

"But, for the TNI faction in the House ... well, they have to perform their duty and respond instead of abstaining from the current political situation, since they will be there until at least 2004. So we perceive it to be a political learning process," Agus said. (dja/edt)