DATE=10/25/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA-MILITARY
NUMBER=5-44606
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
TEXT: In last week's elections, Indonesia gained something
it has never had: a civilian government. That is an
enormous change in a country where the role of the military
in politics has long been enshrined. VOA Correspondent
Gary Thomas looks at the role of Indonesia's military
establishment in a new era.
TEXT: // SOUND OF DRUM AND BUGLE //
A drummer and bugler sound the close of the day at the
Jakarta headquarters of the Indonesian Armed Forces. But
for the Indonesian military, it is also a new dawn. The
advent of civilian rule is bringing about massive changes
in the way Indonesia's military establishment operates.
Under the 32-year-rule of President Suharto - himself a
former general - the armed forces played an active
political as well as military role under what came to be
known as "dual function."
Major General Sudjarat, the chief armed forces spokesman,
says that is now changing as the Indonesian military is in
the process of reformation.
/// SUDJARAT ACT //
We are now committed to promoting democracy in this
nation. We are committed to encouraging the values
of democracy. So, if the dual function is
interpreted as the involvement of the armed forces in
the political atmosphere or arena, then we have to
decide no. But if dual function is still considered
and defined as our care of the nation's life, our
care of the people, then we should carry on.
// END ACT //
President Suharto's ruled with the strong backing of the
military. Military officers could be found in almost every
branch of government, including the hand picked assembly.
But the military was accused of human rights abuses in Aceh
and East Timor, and was vilified by students for shooting
protestors in the days leading up to Mr. Suharto's downfall
in 1998. As military affairs analyst Selim Said points
out, the armed forces' reputation is badly battered.
// SAID ACT //
They are now in very bad shape because of their being
used by the New Order regime of General Suharto,
human rights violations almost everywhere, and the
overextended involvement of the military in politics
which is harshly criticized by the civilians. So that
is the reasons why they would like, the military
would like, to see themselves professionalized.
// END ACT //
Mr. Said says the top military leaders strongly objected to
Armed Forces Chief General Wiranto making a bid to become
vice-president.
General Sudjarat, the armed forces' spokesman, says any
military personnel wanting to take any political role must
retire from active duty first.
// SUDJARAT ACT //
So, for example, if one of our soldiers is to become
our leader - governor, mayor, even minister or
president, they have to be retired. They are then
civilians. So there is no direct involvement anymore
from the military institution to outside the
organization.
// END ACT //
But Mr. Said it will take cooperation from the civilian
politicians to ensure the military confines itself to
military matters.
// SAID ACT //
But then the future of military reformation depends
very much, I think, on whether the civilian
politicians in the near future can show that they are
a solid power in the sense that they can cooperate
among themselves. Because in the past the military
deepened their political involvement because the
civilians could not trust each other.
// END ACT //
It may be all too tempting, he warns, for a politician in
trouble to run to the military for help - and for a
politically ambitious military clique to oblige. (Signed)
NEB/GPT/LTD/KL
25-Oct-1999 09:41 AM EDT (25-Oct-1999 1341 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
