Generals display flair in debate<\/p>\n
Rendy Witular and M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
True colors were displayed on the second day of the two-day
\nofficial presidential dialog on Thursday, as the retired generals
\namong the presidential and vice presidential candidates presented
\ntheir ideas on the place of the military in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
During the presidential debate, called a dialog by the
\norganizer, the General Elections Commission, presidential
\ncandidates Hamzah Haz, the current Vice President, Wiranto and
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono, both retired generals, responded to a
\nrange of issues.<\/p>\n
One of the topics they touched on was the territorial
\nstructures within the Indonesian Military (TNI) and whether the
\nTNI commander should be subordinate to the Ministry of Defense.<\/p>\n
The two issues, raised by panelist Ikrar Nusa Bhakti, a
\nresearcher on military issues, are among the most crucial in
\nefforts to end the TNI's traditional role in politics.<\/p>\n
Thursday's dialog was more lively than the previous night's,
\nwith all three of the candidates showing a command of the issues
\nand a general ease fielding questions.<\/p>\n
In Wednesday's dialog, featuring candidates Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri and Amien Rais, Megawati appeared flustered more
\nthan once when cut off by moderator Ira Koesno, and Amien came
\nacross as the much more communicative candidate.<\/p>\n
However on Thursday many among the 300 spectators who gathered
\nat the Hotel Borobudur to watch the event, left the venue early.<\/p>\n
Several said they were bored because the candidates failed to
\noffer concrete explanation.<\/p>\n
The candidates on Thursday said the territorial structures
\nwithin the military, which run parallel to government offices
\nfrom the central level down to villages, should be maintained,
\ndespite the promise of military reform announced by Wiranto in
\nthe \"New Paradigm\" document in the early days of the \"reform
\nera\".<\/p>\n
The territorial structures are seen by many as one source of
\ninherited problems from the past regime, as they extend the
\nmilitary's role in society beyond their defense role. However, in
\nthe \"white book\" of the defense ministry the structures are
\nmaintained.<\/p>\n
Former military commander Wiranto said he would not resume the
\npolitical function of the territorial structures if elected.<\/p>\n
\"I want (the structures) purely for our defense against
\ninfiltrators and rebels,\" he said, adding that he would boost the
\nterritorial commands in terms of skill and defense equipment.<\/p>\n
Former chief security minister Susilo also said the structures
\nwere still needed, but added that the commands needed to be
\n\"purified\" and returned to their defense role only and should not
\ndabble in politics.<\/p>\n
Retired general Agum Gumelar, Hamzah's running mate, said the
\nterritorial structures had the ability to anticipate \"horizontal
\nconflicts\". \"The territorial commands are also needed to prevent
\ninfiltration by invaders,\" said Agum.<\/p>\n
On whether the TNI commander should be subordinate to the
\nminister of defense, only Agum answered in the positive.
\nCurrently the TNI commander is on par with Cabinet ministers.<\/p>\n
Ideally, he said, \"the TNI commander should be accountable and
\nbow to the minister of defense, as in developed nations. This is
\npart of a strategy to drive civilian supremacy\".<\/p>\n
Susilo said what was important was that \"there should be no
\nintervention made by each other. I prefer to maintain the current
\nstructure, with the minister of defense dealing with budgetary
\naffairs and general defense policy\".<\/p>\n
Wiranto agreed with Susilo, saying that \"it is not yet time
\nfor the TNI to be under the minister of defense, although the
\nmilitary has agreed to follow regulations and laws set up by
\ncivilians\".<\/p>\n
In the dialog there was one amusing incident, when panelist
\nHarkristuti Harkrisnowo, a legal expert, questioned Hamzah over
\nhis plan to \"change the mind-set of men regarding women, who are
\nregarded as \"second-class citizens\".<\/p>\n
Hamzah, who officially has three wives, looked puzzled. The
\npanelist repeated the question and Hamzah gestured to Agum for
\nhelp, who stepped in and answered the question.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/generals-display-flair-in-debate-1447893297",
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