Syarwan Hamid stresses dialog for democracy

JAKARTA (JP): A senior Armed Forces (ABRI) officer stressed yesterday that dialog was the best way to bridge differences of opinion while the country's democracy was developing.

"Democratization and openness call for discussion between people with different views on political and development issues," said Armed Forces Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid.

Syarwan, who is rumored to lead the Armed Forces faction in the House of Representatives after Oct. 1, said that those who had remained outside the political system were welcome to discuss these issues.

"We could talk with opposition groups as long as we share similar views on basic state matters," he said.

For a start, they all had to believe in God, the first of five principles in the Pancasila state ideology.

"It is impossible to hold a discussion between a group of believers on one side and non-believers on the other. They will never find a meeting point," he said.

Syarwan declined to categorize retired servicemen who were critical of the government as an opposition group.

He denied that there was a serious rift between serving and retired officers.

"You (journalists) know that none of our seniors were involved in the series of riots during the election campaign," he said.

"We might have had our differences, but they are still within the system and constitutionally tolerable," he said.

The Armed Forces has been in constant touch with its retired officers, he said, citing a series of formal and informal meetings in the last three months.

In April, the Army organized a reunion of 1951-1961 graduates of the Army Staff and Command School. About 200 of the 1951-1961 graduates held closed-door meetings with active officers.

On June 9, about 200 retired generals went to the Armed Forces headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, to receive badges and certificates for their role in establishing the People's Security Forces, which later became the Armed Forces.

Gen. (ret) Abdul Haris Nasution, the first Army chief of staff, and former chief of the Army Strategic and Reserves Command Lt. Gen. (ret) Achmad Kemal Idris attended the ceremony.

On June 13, retired and active officers had another chance to meet during a ceremony to transfer the Army chief of staff post from Gen. R. Hartono to Gen. Wiranto. Nasution headed the guest list of retired officers that also included M. Panggabean, Poniman, Makmun Murod, Edi Sudradjat, Wismoyo Arismunandar and Bambang Triantoro.

The Armed Forces would support democratization, Syarwan said, but added that people should first develop democratic attitudes.

"Democracy and openness are good. Why shouldn't we put these principles into practice?" he asked.

Syarwan declined to comment on rumors of his new appointment, saying that he would leave the matter to his superiors.

"The ABRI chief has not said anything about my future assignment," he said.

"As a soldier I am ready to be assigned anywhere," he said, adding that he would give his best in whatever post he served.

The military, whose members did not vote in the May general election, is assured 75 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives in the next term which begins Oct. 1.

Syarwan said the Armed Forces would retain at least one-third of its current representatives in the House.

"We will keep representatives who are experienced and qualified, so they can share their knowledge and experience with new ones," he said. (imn)