Principles of ABRI

Principles of ABRI

After reading the article Is ABRI losing its sight of history
(The Jakarta Post, March 29, 1996) written by J. Soedjati
Djiwandono, a member of the CSIS board of directors, I felt the
urge to comment on the words of another -- the speech of Gen.
Hartono, the Army's chief of staff in Karanganyar.

It should be known that I am not a political observer, but
just somebody who likes to write when he reads something strange.
And this speech appears strange to me.

Gen. Hartono said that members of ABRI (Armed Forces) are
cadres of the Golkar group. Did he have the right to speak on
behalf of the Navy, Air Force and National Police? Gen. Feisal
Tanjung maybe could say that, though the wisdom would be
questionable.

There is something called the "Nine principles of ABRI's dual
function". Principle No.1 says: The policy followed by ABRI is
the 1945 policy of no group politics nor the politics of ABRI.
Why then did the Army side with one specific group? I remember
the statement of the Secretary-general of Korpri (Indonesian
Civil Servants Association) that members of Korpri must vote for
Golkar, which invited strong reaction.

* Point nine says that as long as the existing institutions do
their job well, then ABRI must let the institution concerned do
it's job. This means no interference. I cannot accept that ABRI
is doubting the capability of Golkar leadership, because in my
opinion they are doing well, or better still, very well.

The controversial speech has been put right by the proper
authorities and now we are facing more important and relevant
problems. One of them is the coming general election.

Let us make the general election a success because this is the
only way to find out what the people actually want. We may have
our differences, but this is normal in a living, dynamic and
democratic community like Indonesia.

The President said March 13, 1972: "In our journey towards a
Pancasila community, all kinds of efforts of adjustment occur,
which is not always a smooth path or free from social and
psychological turbulences. It may take a long time and requires
from us determination, patience and wisdom."

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Jakarta