The Armed Forces in parliament

The Armed Forces in parliament

It is now almost certain that the number of Armed Forces representatives in the national legislature will be reduced from the present 100 to 75. Representing the government, Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung, Minister/ State Secretary Moerdiono and Home Affairs Minister Yogie SM have met with the leaders of the legislature to convey that intention. According to plan, the government will submit a draft law concerning this rather phenomenal move.

The plan is phenomenal because, for as long as the New Order has been in power, the presence of an Armed Forces faction in the House of Representatives has never been debated, either with regard to the number of its representatives or its function. It is also phenomenal because the Armed Forces faction in parliament, which has so far been considered to represent the Armed Forces dual function in society, itself initiated this move towards a reduction.

To us, this move signals two things. First, the government's political will to move towards greater democratization is growing. Second, ABRI is becoming increasingly more open to making the corrections which the times demand. The present shrinking world order, global norms increasingly influence our local standards.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta