Three pillars prevent militarism

Three pillars prevent militarism

From Warta Kota

For 32 years Indonesia was under Gen. (ret) Soeharto. During
this period, all choice positions were given to the military or
those closely related to the military. Of course the New Order
regime under Soeharto did gain some success in development.

Now that the Soeharto era is over, the country is in the
reform era, in which the military has undergone its own reform.
Reformed military personnel are professionals who know their
place in a democratic state.

So, it is really unnecessary to harbor suspicion for
presidential and vice presidential candidates who are former
military men. They have retired from military service and have
become civilians. It is discriminatory to discredit them by
trying to uncover their past mistakes.

During the Old Order and New Order periods, the three
political pillars -- the judiciary, the executive and the
legislative, could not perform their functions properly as they
were put under the control of the executive. Today, the People's
Consultative Assembly, the House of Representatives, the
judiciary, the Attorney General's Office, the police, the
Indonesian Military and the press are performing their respective
functions properly so there will be no more chance for
militarism.

JULES FIOOLE
Chairman of Party of the Republic
of Indonesia Artists and Men of Culture
Jakarta