JOURNAL OF SE ASIAN AFFAIRS, Vol X, June 18th 1966. The Mercantilism of Ideas

It seems to me since we are the striking arm of the powers established by democracy that we should strive to understand what is our exact role within the constitutional framework.

Are we constitutionally obliged to fulfill our obligations to the state if its decisions are filled with inequity I think not.

The army is no more obliged or legally bound to fulfill illegal orders than a single orderly is bound by duty to fulfill an illegal order stemming from his chain of command. In fact he ought to report that officer further down the chain of command. 

Who ought we to report to if the powers of the state are between iniquitous hands, politicians who else, who declare unjust wars or issue illegal orders.

Nor should we stay idle in front of this mercantilism of ideas we seem to be threading, wanting to establish for people what they ought to establish for themselves if it so pleases them. We will find them often established for a long time not to be plainly meddling in their state affairs.

Not to mention those untangling ideological alliances which brought us nothing but trouble and of which we do not know the actual tenants.

The short answer is to our conscience, for even when the state fails we are in the end the sole responsible for the welfare and well being of the nation.

Lest we put rational safeguards to the use of the striking force that is the army we will always feel inclined to use and abuse of it, which in the end the responsibility falls in our laps in case the country is destroyed, not into that of civilians.

If not physically destroyed then in its very fabric, its values and the morals of its people and army. In fairness, in wisdom and in justice, in all those things without which no thing can stand the course of time.


Sincerely, etc, etc