Rising military stars leads RI to democracy
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)