Seven generals on trial?

Seven generals on trial?

From Rakyat Merdeka

The Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations (KPP
HAM) in East Timor has recommended the trial of certain members
of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police (Polri)
for their inability to handle the situation after the
independence ballot in East Timor. According to the report, the
commission will name seven high-ranking officers. The number of
these officers matches that of the seven "heroes of the
revolution", who allegedly set up a council of generals who were
reportedly plotting to overthrow Sukarno and, who, later lost
their lives as a result of treachery.

Now, what is the relationship between these men and the seven
officers to be recommended for trial? In fact, there is no direct
relationship between them, especially considering the differing
periods of time and political conditions. However, at the same
time as the commission's report was published, there were rumors
of a coup attempt to topple President Abdurrahman's
administration. This assumption is corroborated with the
unwillingness on the part of TNI members to see their generals
taken to court. In this regard, even the President has said that
about 10 percent of TNI members are unloyal.

In my analysis, in a changing situation in which a regime is
consolidating itself in order to be able to secure its power,
strong support, among others from the military, is needed. In
such a situation, the present legitimate government needs a loyal
military. So military members who are defiant or not loyal (10
percent) must be removed. Is it true that the seven high-ranking
officers recommended for trial by the commission and also by the
Attorney General's Office are among those to be removed?

The question is whether these seven high-ranking officers are
merely victims of a regime which is consolidating its position.
They have been made victims through the commission. If this is
the case, it is exactly the same as what happened to the seven
"heroes of the revolution" when the council of generals was
accused of attempting to overthrow Sukarno. Who has orchestrated
all this? It is hard to say and it is also difficult to point an
accusing finger in this respect. Yet, we may make an analogy
between the seven "heroes of the revolution" and the seven
"victims of the reform drive". I just hope that my analysis is
wrong.

HARUN MANISE

Jakarta