Rising military stars leads RI to democracy

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The rise of the younger generation to senior positions in the Armed Forces will help boost democratization in Indonesia, a retired general said yesterday.

Former Kalimantan military commander Maj. Gen. (ret) ZA Maulani said in a discussion held by the Center for Security and Peace Studies here that Indonesian people could lay their demands for democracy on the rising stars thanks to their progressive vision.

"Many current high-ranking military officers graduated from the Military Academy after 1970. Some of them joined the student movement that played a pivotal role in the establishment of the New Order in 1966," Maulani said.

The former demonstrators include the new assistant to the Armed Forces chief of sociopolitical affairs, Maj. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudoyono, and Yogyakarta Military Commander Col. Abdul Rahman Gaffar.

Bambang graduated from the military academy in 1973, while Gaffar graduated one year earlier.

New Army chief Gen. Wiranto, a 1968 graduate, leads the train of younger military officers who will complete the transfer of power from the older generation in the next few years.

"Their (the young officers') expertise and experience will ensure the Armed Forces develops to become a professional organization," Maulani said.

He lamented, however, that certain groups continue to foster a rift between the military and civilian authorities.

The latest example, he said, was a widespread rumor that the selection of the outgoing Armed Forces chief of sociopolitical affairs, Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, to the House of Representatives was intended to prevent Golkar Chairman Harmoko becoming the next House Speaker.

"The groups are pushing for Syarwan to be nominated to break the Armed Forces away from Golkar," Maulani said.

The Armed Forces is a member of the Golkar family.

Harmoko is expected to become the next House Speaker after leading Golkar to a record 74 percent of the vote in the May 29 general election. (23/amd)