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