Defense paper revives military's security role<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A recently released white paper on Indonesia's defense points
\nto \"imminent domestic threats\" as the country's biggest worry in
\nthe coming years, and suggests that the Indonesian Military (TNI)
\nbe handed back both security and defensive roles.<\/p>\n
The paper, drafted by the Ministry of Defense, says that
\nwithin the next 10 to 15 years Indonesia will not face serious
\nthreats from other countries in the form of invasion or military
\nattack, but will face various domestic dangers, including radical
\nmovements, communal conflicts, terrorism and separatist
\nmovements.<\/p>\n
In the absence of the threat of invasion, the paper identifies
\nforeign threats as transnational crimes detrimental to the
\ncountry's security, such as piracy, illegal logging and people
\nsmuggling.<\/p>\n
According to the white paper, military operations
\nsignificantly different from those associated with traditional
\nwarfare will be required to deal with these threats.<\/p>\n
\"As a defensive tool of the state, the TNI will play its role
\nin handling these threats, while the National Police, as a
\nsecurity force, will carry out its main duty of upholding
\nsecurity and public order in line with the law on the National
\nPolice,\" the paper says.<\/p>\n
The paper calls for the preservation of the military's much-
\ncriticized territorial function, arguing that tradition dictates
\nthat the armed forces cannot be separated from the people.<\/p>\n
To make these principles operational would require revisions
\nto People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) decrees No. 6\/2000 on the
\nseparation of the TNI and the National Police and No. 7\/2000 on
\nthe division of duties between the two forces.<\/p>\n
The director general of defense strategy at the Ministry of
\nDefense, Maj. Gen. Sudrajat, confirmed that the defense white
\npaper was meant to open the debate about the need to review the
\nMPR decrees.<\/p>\n
\"The separation of duties between the TNI and police should be
\nseen from another point of view. This means that the government
\ncan use a military approach in dealing with armed rebellion,
\ncommunal conflict or radicalism,\" Sudrajat told The Jakarta Post
\non Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Sudrajat was referring to military deployments to quell
\nsectarian conflicts in Maluku and the Central Sulawesi town of
\nPoso between 1999 and 2002. These conflicts left thousands of
\npeople dead and hundreds of thousands displaced.<\/p>\n
He said dialog to resolve problems in the rebellious provinces
\nof Aceh and Papua could be followed by the use of military force.<\/p>\n
The white paper's focus on domestic security rather than
\nforeign threats has caused some criticism.<\/p>\n
Some military observers said the white paper failed to explain
\nefforts to develop a professional military, which is the
\nobjective of internal reform within the military.<\/p>\n
\"The military's involvement in political institutions is not
\npresent in the white paper, but its extensive role in handling
\nvarious social problems can pave the way for the TNI to engage in
\ncivilian affairs,\" Munir, a member of military watchdog
\nImpartial, told the Post.<\/p>\n
\"Sadly, the paper legitimizes the military's efforts to
\nmaintain its territorial function, which should be gradually
\nscrapped gradually in the spirit of reform.\"<\/p>\n
The military has complained about budget shortfalls, saying
\nefforts to create a professional force are hampered by a lack of
\nfunding. The state budget covers only 30 percent of the
\nmilitary's operational costs.<\/p>\n
But Munir said other state institutions faced similar
\ndifficulties. \"It is crucial for the TNI to allocate its budget
\nproperly rather than asking the government to increase defense
\nspending.\"<\/p>\n
Another military analyst, Ikrar Nusabakti of the Indonesian
\nInstitute of Sciences, said the white paper could lead to the
\nmilitary's taking control of civil affairs, and increase public
\ndoubt about the police's ability to deal with domestic problems.<\/p>\n
\"Of course handling armed rebellion is part of the TNI's
\nduties, but still the decision to use military force belongs to
\nthe civilian government,\" Ikrar said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/defense-paper-revives-militarys-security-role-1447893297",
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