Syarwan installed as ABRI sociopolitical chief

Syarwan installed as ABRI sociopolitical chief

JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung
yesterday installed Maj. Gen. Syarwan Hamid as the new chief of
sociopolitical affairs, a job he said is reserved for someone
with strong vision.

Syarwan, 52 years old, replaced Lt. Gen. Moch. Ma'ruf, in one
of the two top positions in the ABRI headquarters after the chief
itself. The other job is the chief of general affairs, now held
by Lt. Gen. Suyono.

With his appointment, Syarwan, who has served as Ma'ruf's
assistant this past year, is also due for promotion in rank.

In his speech during the installation ceremony, Gen. Feisal
underlined the need for ABRI contribute its best to the
sociopolitical development of the country.

In order to be able to carry out this task, ABRI needs a chief
of sociopolitical affairs who possesses strong perception and
deep vision, Feisal said.

"A chief of sociopolitical affairs with strong vision is
something that we have to have, so that ABRI could always work
with the challenges and demands of the time," he said.

Feisal also underlined the need for ABRI to work together with
other political forces in the country.

Under the dwi fungsi (dual function) concept, ABRI is
recognized as a sociopolitical force as well as the nation's
security and defense backbone.

Traditionally, it has been the duty of the chief of
sociopolitical affairs to explain and articulate this political
role as well as to advise the chief in discharging this duty.

Syarwan, a 1966 graduate of the National Military Academy, has
been at the forefront in explaining the military position to the
public for the past year. Last weekend, for example, he warned
about the "new left" movement in Indonesia which he said was more
dangerous than communism.

Syarwan's old position has been filled by Brig. Gen. Suwarno
Adiwijoyo, previously ABRI's chief spokesman. Syarwan also served
as ABRI chief spokesman earlier.

The promotions of Syarwan and Suwarno dispelled the belief
that the position of military spokesman was a dead end for an
officer's career.

Both Syarwan and Suwarno had careers as territorial officers
before moving to the military information office, an increasingly
important part of the military to maintain its good image.

Meanwhile in Bandung, West Java, Army Chief of Staff Gen. R.
Hartono yesterday presented 50 Scorpion tanks recently delivered
from Britain to the Army's cavalry unit.

Hartono said the tanks were part of a modernization process of
the army's cavalry corps which consists of 1,020 tanks, many of
which are obsolete and over three decades old.

"Because of limited funds, the government has only agreed to
the purchase of 50 tanks, though the cavalry would like to
replace all of them," he said.

Apart from buying the Scorpion tanks, the Army has also
refitted about 150 panzers with new engines.

According to Hartono these efforts were part of enhancing the
national defense system in anticipation of the existing domestic
scene which is still filled with various challenges. (imn/emb/17/mds)