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)