Doubts about TNI reform<\/p>\n
After a long wait, the promised reorganization in the ranks of
\nthe Indonesian Military (TNI), was finally announced in what
\namounts to the biggest reshuffle of personnel in years, although
\nthe chief commander and chief-of-staff of the Army have yet to be
\nreplaced.<\/p>\n
This reorganization was eagerly awaited by the public because
\nit was widely expected to be a realization of the kind of
\ndemocratic reform that would take the military out of politics,
\ndo away with dwifungsi (dual function) and limit the military's
\nrole to that of national defense. That being the case, the recent
\nreorganization should also have been a reflection of the
\nmilitary's stated commitment to comply with the public's wishes.<\/p>\n
Now, however, concerns have arisen that this reorganization
\nwas not what people had either longed for or expected. The
\nreinstatement of the Aceh regional command (Kodam) is just one
\nexample of such a misjudgment. One other case -- and one that
\nstands out and raises doubts about the military's intentions --
\nis the appointment of Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin as head of
\nthe military center of information (Puspen TNI), replacing Rear
\nMarshal Graito Usodo. This is a highly important position as it
\ngives the officer who heads it the role of mouthpiece of the
\nIndonesian military.<\/p>\n
Graito was widely considered to have been fully capable and
\neffective in filling that role. That is quite an achievement in
\nview of the fact that a spokesman's job is not merely to explain
\nspecific actions to the public but even more, to clarify the
\nworkings and principles of the institution he works for. This is
\nall the more important under present conditions.<\/p>\n
Coming from the ranks of the Kopassus elite Army corps,
\nSjafrie, attractive as he may be in appearance, brings with him
\nthe tough conduct he is well known for. His career rose quickly,
\nin step with the meteoric rise that of Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto,
\nbut numerous human rights abuses and violations occurred at the
\ntime he was Jakarta's military commander. Political dissent was
\ndealt with harshly and ruthlessly. Political dissidents opposing
\nSoeharto's New Order regime disappeared without a trace, held
\nincommunicado for days or weeks in secret cells in appalling
\nconditions. Two other major cases occurred while Sjafrie was
\nJakarta's military commander: The Trisakti University shooting
\nincident in which four students were killed and the subsequent
\nMay 1998 riots in which more than a thousand people were reported
\nto have died.<\/p>\n
At present, investigations into the human rights abuses that
\noccurred around that time are still under way though the military
\nis so far refusing to cooperate. For all those reasons there are
\nmany, not only here at home but abroad as well, who oppose
\nSjafrie's appointment to such an important post. Sjafrie is among
\nthe top military officers whom the Commission of Inquiry into
\nHuman Rights Violations (KPP HAM) has summoned to appear. So far,
\nall of them have refused.<\/p>\n
In short, as circumstances are at present, Sjafrie is still an
\nofficer beset by problems and a dark past that needs to be
\nexplained. That a person with such a track record could be given
\nthe job is astonishing to say the least. To be honest, this kind
\nof attitude on the part of the TNI, which should be aware of the
\nprevailing public sentiment, is disappointing in the extreme.<\/p>\n
We could deduce several possibilities for this kind of
\ninsensitivity on the part of the military. One such possibility
\nis, as many analysts seem to believe, that the bargaining
\nposition of the officers' group to which Sjafrie belongs is on
\nthe rise. There are at present a number of active officers in the
\nArmy with no positions to hold. This is a long-standing problem
\nthat has never been rectified.<\/p>\n
We know that many officers in the Army still cannot reconcile
\nthemselves with the idea of the military taking a back seat in
\npolitics. This ambition is strongly evident in the draft anti-
\nterrorist law, in which the impression that the military still
\nwant increased powers is hard to shake. Unfortunately, it also
\ncreates the impression that its commitment to democratic reform
\nis no more than lip service.<\/p>\n
In part, this is of course due to the publics' and the
\npolice's inability to establish stability and law and order in
\nthis country. This, however is the price we have to pay for
\ndemocratization. The one thing we hope for is that the leadership
\nof the TNI can understand this desire. The TNI likens its
\nrelationship with the people to that of a fish living in the
\nwater. It would be the greatest of ironies if that fish should
\ndefy the water that keeps it alive.<\/p>",
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