Building trust<\/p>\n
Confidence building measures is a phrase from the diplomatic
\nrealm that could be used to describe the cautious but steady
\ntreadings of the Ministry of Defense under Juwono Sudarsono.<\/p>\n
There had been some speculation that Juwono might be the next
\nforeign minister, but however qualified the professor of
\ninternational relations might have been to continue the nation's
\nforeign policy, he was needed even more to build bridges in order
\nto span the differences between a democratic Indonesia and a
\nmilitary "unlike those in Western democracies".<\/p>\n
The latest news from Juwono's office is the completion of the
\nfirst draft of a revised security and defense bill. One proposed
\nchange is that the Indonesian Military (TNI) will be put under
\nthe Ministry of Defense, instead of under the direct supervision
\nof the president, as is currently the case.<\/p>\n
If the draft is approved by President Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono, it would signal a change in the President's views.
\nDuring a discussion while campaigning for the presidency, Susilo,
\na retired general, said placing the TNI under the defense
\nministry was not a preferable option.<\/p>\n
Judging from Minister Juwono's statements, the signs are that
\nhe has been patiently conveying to all sides, including the
\nPresident, his repeated theme of continuing earlier efforts
\n(however invisible to the public) at necessary changes, including
\nthe improved transparency and accountability of his own ministry
\nand the institutions in charge of security, namely the National
\nPolice and the TNI.<\/p>\n
In a defense paper delivered last year in London, Juwono
\noutlined the need for "an accountable and credible defense force"
\nthat is able to defend Indonesia's strategic waterways and
\narchipelagic sea lanes. Currently, an official military budget of
\nbarely 1 percent of gross domestic product hinders the ability to
\nachieve this goal.<\/p>\n
A professional defense force is in everyone's interest, and
\nnowadays professionalism at any institution, civil or military,
\nmeans accountability and transparency. With this in mind, Juwono
\nand his team of experts from the defense ministry and from
\nindependent research institutions are seeking to revise the
\ndefense and security legislation.<\/p>\n
However, we recall the bill on the military that was suddenly
\npassed late last year after it seemed to vanish into thin air,
\nshortly after several civilian experts resigned from the team
\ndrafting the bill over a number of contentious articles
\nconcerning the authority of the military chief.<\/p>\n
The new law also glossed over the controversial issue of the
\nterritorial commands that are at the heart of the non-defense
\nfunctions of the TNI; functions that were supposed to end after
\nformer president Soeharto stepped down in 1998.<\/p>\n
During the debate of the TNI bill, we remember the indignant
\nrejection of the term "civilian supremacy" by TNI Commander Gen.
\nEndriartono Sutarto, who like other officers remembers the
\nmilitary's troubles under meddling politicians in the turbulent
\n1950s.<\/p>\n
One of the "confidence building measures" in this light is the
\nassurance that such meddling will never happen again. To this
\nend, one of the proposed changes to the legislation on defense
\nand security takes away from lawmakers the power to appoint the
\nmilitary chief.<\/p>\n
Much more debate is expected over a host of defense and
\nsecurity issues. But what is of the utmost importance here is
\nsupport from all sides for efforts to make our institutions
\naccountable in their use of public funds.<\/p>\n
Such support would include corresponding efforts to end TNI's
\nperceived impunity. If our elite cringe at the thought of having
\nto consider the interests of foreigners (read U.S.) in making our
\nsecurity forces more accountable, they should remember that while
\nIndonesians may not be as loud or influential as U.S. senators,
\nthey are the ones who truly want a transparent and accountable
\nmilitary.<\/p>\n
Only with corresponding efforts to make the security forces
\naccountable can we take effective steps to build the necessary
\ntrust among the public and those institutions that are supposed
\nto protect the people. Without this, Minister Juwono's efforts
\nwill, like so many others, end up being for nought.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/building-trust-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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