The socio-political (sospol) role of the Armed Forces (ABRI) will not be a "flat tyre", even at President Soeharto's post leadership. ABRI's role will not change much because ABRI in its history of existence until this moment is performing its role as unifier of the nation.

Thus was disclosed by the experts staff of the Minister of Research and Technology in Defense and Security ZA Maulani after discussing the study results of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences (LIPI) regarding the sospol role of ABRI, Wednesday (26/2) at LIPI's Widya Chandra Building in Jakarta.

ZA Maulani answered reporters questions based on questions of a participant when the presentation of the research results were made. Maulani said that if we continued national development perpetually, national stability formed one of ABRI's responsibilities together with the nation. "Speaking about stability, we have to redefine about the manner in which we will erect national stability," he said.

He said that the final form of ABRI's sospol role will be determined by the people, because the present role of ABRI is a consensus of the People's Consultative Council (MPR) of 1969. With looking at the field, the process of differences of opinion could not yet be accommodated so that disputes were often difficult to be handled because each reacted a priori. "In such an attitude ABRI forms the only solid national force which becomes the anchor of the requirements of this country," said Maulani.

But how can it be performed if there is no figure like Pak Harto? reporters asked. It was disclosed that formerly, when President Soekarno was in power, it could not be imagined who would replace him. "But it proved that the emergence of an unknown Commander of the Army's Strategic Command, could change Indonesia in the world map as it now is," said Maulani.

Asked whether there would not be post-Soeharto upheavals due to the absence of a figure who can compete with President Soeharto, while quoting the opinion of Sofyan Wanandi, Maulani said that as long as ABRI is still the strongest socio-political force, ABRI will become the anchor of stability. "There may be upheavals, but as long as ABRI is still compact and solid, there will be no serious upheavals," he said.

Maulani did not see competition in ABRI's body at the moment because this, he said, was a perception from outsiders. But Maulani admitted that in each social body there would always be differences of opinion. Evenso in the ABRI, there was the possibility of different opinions either from active or pensioned officers.

Commenting on Sofyan Wanandi's statement in his LIPI presentation that there were only a little ABRI thinkers in the era of Soeharto's leadership, Maulani disagreed with the opinion of the Gemala Group Boss.

According to Maulani ABRI's discipline is presently much better than in the past. With a good discipline there is always a unit of cohesiveness. "Therefore, those who speak are those who indeed have the responsibility for it," he said. (*)