Reconciliation in the air

Abdul Haris Nasution, Hoegeng Imam Santoso and Ali Sadikin -- three familiar names in the government and the military in the 1960s and 1970s -- are making news again this month. They virtually disappeared from public life when they were ostracized by the government in the 1980s and much of the 1990s because of their political views. Judging by recent official attitudes, all seem to have been forgiven as they, at least Nasution and Hoegeng, have started making public appearances again.

Gen. (ret.) Nasution, the first Army chief of staff after Indonesia's independence in 1945, and the most senior surviving Army officer, made appearances at two separate military functions last month. The first was when he and dozens of other retired officers were given awards by the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) in recognition of their role in setting up the Badan Keamanan Rakyat (People's Defense Agency), the precursor to ABRI, in the 1940s. The second was when he attended the ceremony for the transfer of duty of the Army chief of staff from Gen. R. Hartono to Gen. Wiranto.

Gen. (ret.) Hoegeng attended Bhayangkara Day for the 51st anniversary of the National Police this week, marking his return after many years of being excluded by the force he once led.

Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Arief Kushariadi said publicly that he was considering inviting Sadikin, a retired marine lieutenant general and former Jakarta governor, to the next major function in his force, Armada Day in November.

Maybe it is too early to suggest that a reconciliation between the government and its most staunchest critics is finally in the air. But many people are hoping for this. At the very least, these "old soldiers" no longer seem to be ostracized and are now being included in the official guest list of various military functions. This is a good start toward reconciliation, if that is indeed the intention.

Remarks by active military officers have also been encouraging. ABRI Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid has suggested holding a dialog between the government and its critics as a way of building democracy. Adm. Arief, when talking about Sadikin this week, said: "In principle, the Navy respects all its seniors."

The rift between some retired officers and those in active duty has been a sore point in the military's history. In bygone days it would have been unimaginable that the military would turn its back on its seniors, many with fine records of dedication to the nation. The pejorative term "disgruntled has-beens" often used in the past by officials to describe these former officers is unfair, especially today. Now in their 70s, and in poor health as in Nasution's case, they no longer nurse any personal ambitions, if they had any in the first place when they scathingly criticized the government. Any expression of concern they make today is based on their concern for the nation and its future. In any event, we live in the 1990s now, an era where differences of opinion should be tolerated, if not respected.

In 1992, there was a similar attempt to bring about a reconciliation with these critics when State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie invited them to visit strategic industries he ran. But nothing came of it.

Now the atmosphere is ripe for another attempt. A dialog, as suggested by Syarwan, would be the right forum to bring differences of opinions out in the air, and to work together toward a common objective: the welfare of the nation.

Old soldiers may never die, but it would be a tragedy for the nation if it did not give them the chance to voice their opinions and their words of wisdom, before they fade away from public life, forever.