Wiranto guarded on ABRI's political role

JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto trod cautiously on Wednesday over mounting demands that the military end its presence in the House of Representatives (DPR) and regional legislative councils.

"ABRI will gradually change its sociopolitical role in line with the people's political maturity," he told reporters on Wednesday after attending the People's Consultative Assembly's plenary session which heard the five factions' general observations on the 12 draft Assembly decrees.

The general praised the other four Assembly factions' objective observations and accurate analysis into ABRI's past and its performance, but hoped that they would not use the issue for political gain.

Wiranto said he disagreed with four top opposition leaders' suggestion that ABRI be given a six-year deadline to cede its seats in legislative bodies.

"I do not want to talk about the deadline as the decision to end ABRI's presence in the House will completely rest on the people's readiness," he said.

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Abdurrahman Wahid, the chairman of National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais, chairwoman of the popular faction of the splintered Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri and Yoygakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX met at Abdurrahman's residence in Ciganjur, South Jakarta, on Tuesday.

They said ABRI should leave politics and concentrate on its defense and security tasks.

Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Gen. (ret) Feisal Tanjung, however, took a tougher stance and dismissed the four opposition leaders' call.

"The discussion on the reduction of ABRI's membership in the House (should be held) not in Ciganjur, but here at the Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly," he told reporters who approached him for comments. He left immediately afterward.

Military observer Lt. Gen. (ret) Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo noticed that all five Assembly factions agreed with the gradual reduction of ABRI's membership in the House.

"A common platform concluded after the session of the five factions' general observations shows that they agreed to have zero ABRI representation in the legislative body," Sayidiman, former Governor of the military think tank, the National Resilience Institute, said.

Speaking about the "appropriate" number of ABRI legislators for the spirit of reform movement, he said it should be 25 or less.

A delegation of 20 students from the private Gunadharma University filed a petition on Wednesday with the Armed Forces faction demanding the revocation of the Armed Forces dual role.

"ABRI's involvement in politics will only polarize its members," Yuri Andrian, a delegation member, told the Armed Forces legislators.

"ABRI's active involvement in politics will also weaken ABRI's security and defense role," he said. (imn)