University recommends Supreme Advisory Board dissolution

University recommends Supreme Advisory Board dissolution

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Gadjah Mada University has recommended the
dissolution of the Supreme Advisory Board on the grounds that it
overlapped with other state agencies.

A proposal released on Saturday by the university's team
created to draw up political recommendations said the Supreme
Advisory Board's function was unclear.

"To clarify power management in the country, Gadjah Mada
University suggests the dissolution of the Supreme Advisory
Board," said Riswandha Imawan, a politics professor and team
member. The suggestion is part of Gadjah Mada University's (UGM)
suggestions in a handbook titled Political Democratization. It
was presented to journalists by Ichlasul Amal, the university's
rector.

Also attending the media conference were 11 lecturers from the
university's School of Social and Political Sciences who make up
the team. In addition to Riswandha, they include Mohtar Mas'oed,
Warsito Utomo, and Samsu Rizal Panggabean.

UGM also cited human rights violations which they said were
committed by the military due to a lack of civilian control over
the military and the intelligence agencies.

Ichlasul cited the recently revealed abuses such as the
abductions and tortures in various places, including Aceh, North
Sumatra as examples. "A requirement of reform toward democracy is
to restrain the military's role in politics," Ichlasul said.

The military, he added, should return to its essential role of
defending the nation. Mohtar added that the numerous reports of
stolen fish and smuggling proved that national defense mechanisms
were still weak.

Mohtar said the military should be strong to enable it to
defend the country's natural resources. "But not to take care of
farmers, electricity, taxes and politics."

"This is the result of the improper role of the military. Some
of the personnel are used for the authorities' interests," he
added.

Riswandha also noted that the realignment of the military's
role to defend the country without entering social and political
life would support the creation of a civil society and democracy.

He said the military's role had made democracy "stagnant"
because the whole nation was under its control. "Civilians
haven't had a chance to learn about democracy."

In the 47-page publication, UGM also urged the bolstering of
the Supreme Audit Agency's provincial branches, claiming that at
present they could not work effectively. Besides having too few
personnel, the Agency "does not have any autonomy", the report
said. (44/01)