Security approach no longer needed: Political observer

Security approach no longer needed: Political observer

JAKARTA (JP): Political observer Daniel Dhakidae has backed
the call for an end to the Armed Forces (ABRI) "security
approach" in national development, saying it is time to return
people's lives to normalcy.

"The security approach is not a goal, but merely a
prerequisite in carrying out national development," Daniel
Dhakidae said in a seminar yesterday on Indonesia facing the 21st
century.

Although security is necessary and people should have a sense
of its importance, he said it was not a national objective for
which all things, including human lives, could be sacrificed.

In this reform era, he said, the security approach of the
military was fast becoming obsolete. In its place, one
emphasizing social welfare and humanity must be used, he added.

"We should learn from cases (of rights violations) in Aceh,
East Timor and Irian Jaya. How many people have been killed in
the three regions because of the security approach employed by
the military?"

Dhakidae made his remarks in response to former minister of
defense and security Gen. (ret.) Edi Sudradjat's criticism of
President Habibie's state of the nation speech on Aug. 15.

Edi chided Habibie for saying the security approach was now
out of date and should be discarded. Edi contended the concept
was still important and could not be separated from national
life.

Habibie said in the address that the social welfare approach
should be advanced. Among the ways to achieve the goal, Habibie
said, was by campaigning for human rights, democratization and by
encouraging public participation in national development.

When asked to comment on the troubles besetting Aceh, East
Timor and Irian Jaya provinces, Dhakidae supported full autonomy
for the first two and believed East Timorese should be allowed to
conduct a referendum on its fate.

"All this should be done in order to win back the people's
hearts in the three provinces," he said. (rms)