Activists criticize revised bill on TNI<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Rights activists criticized on Tuesday the amended bill on the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI), saying it was a setback for democracy
\nbecause if enacted, it would retain the military's territorial
\npresence.<\/p>\n
Munir of the National Commission on Missing Persons and
\nVictims of Violence (Kontras) said the bill limited presidential
\njurisdiction over approving deployment for war and military
\noperations other than war, while it scrapped presidential
\nauthority to approve deployment for other purposes, including
\nterritorial security.<\/p>\n
He was referring to Article 8(2) of the bill, which states
\nthat the TNI has three key roles in maintaining state sovereignty
\nand integrity: launch war against the enemy, launch military
\noperations other than war and maintain territorial supervision.<\/p>\n
\"According to the appendix, the military is allowed
\ninvolvement in handling community conflicts and terrorist
\nthreats, whereas such responsibilities should belong to the
\npolice,\" Munir said.<\/p>\n
He said Article 8(2) of the bill contradicted the People's
\nConsultative Assembly Decree No. VI\/2001 on the separation of TNI
\nfrom the National Police and No. VII\/2001 on the duties of police
\nand TNI.<\/p>\n
The bill has incited much criticism since it was made public
\nlast year, with analysts saying it authorized the TNI commander
\nto deploy military personnel in an emergency without seeking
\npresidential approval.<\/p>\n
Analysts have also warned of a possible abuse of power by the
\nTNI commander if the contentious Article 19, which regulated
\ntroop deployment, was not reviewed by the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
They also said military reform would be threatened if Article
\n9 on the Army was maintained, as it based the military doctrine
\nand operational strategy on its territorial functions.<\/p>\n
According to Munir, the government team assigned to amend the
\nbill had scrapped Article 19, but other, more controversial
\narticles had been retained in the amendment.<\/p>\n
Article 45, for example, grants civilian posts -- including
\nCabinet ministries and non-ministerial institutions -- to
\nservicemen with no obligation to resign from active service.<\/p>\n
\"The TNI leadership issued a policy (in 1999) asking
\nservicemen holding civilian posts to choose either to return to
\nactive military service or take early retirement.<\/p>\n
\"At that time, several senior military officers holding
\ngovernorships tendered resignation letters to TNI headquarters,\"
\nMunir recalled.<\/p>\n
He also criticized the proposed Article 59, which reaffirmed
\nthe existence of the military court authorized to grant impunity
\nto servicemen.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Rachland Nashidik of local human rights watchdog
\nImpartial urged lawmakers to delay the bill's deliberation,
\npending the installment of the new government.<\/p>\n
The new president elected in the Sept. 20 run-off is to be
\nsworn in on Oct. 20.<\/p>\n
\"If lawmakers are ethical in regards their duties, they should
\nreturn the revised bill to the government and delay the
\ndeliberation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
House Commission I for defense affairs plans to begin
\ndeliberations during the current recess, which ends on Aug. 14.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/activists-criticize-revised-bill-on-tni-1447893297",
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