Gus Dur's gripe with Wiranto, not military<\/p>\n
Tension built in the past week between President Abdurrahman
\nWahid and Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and
\nSecurity Gen. Wiranto, the former Indonesian Military (TNI)
\ncommander. The following is an excerpt from an interview by The
\nJakarta Post with lecturer in politics Arbi Sanit.<\/p>\n
Question: How do you see the current state of relations
\nbetween Gus Dur (Abdurrahman) and the military?<\/p>\n
Answer: There has been tension but don't say it's between Gus
\nDur and TNI, it's not TNI as an institution, it's only Wiranto's
\ngroup, which reportedly only comprises the chief of the Army
\nStrategic Reserves Command and four provincial military
\ncommanders who I don't know.<\/p>\n
The others like the Army chief of staff, the Air Force chief
\nof staff and the rest have no problem, at least they express
\nthat, as an institution, TNI does not support a coup d'etat.<\/p>\n
If they did, of course they would have issued either explicit
\nor veiled statements.<\/p>\n
Why would most of the military support Gus Dur?<\/p>\n
Because it is the president's authority to dismiss a minister.
\nApart from that, many have also been disappointed with Wiranto;
\nhis rise stepped over many officers while he was only a former
\nadjutant (of president Soeharto).<\/p>\n
What is the implication of this situation for future civil-
\nmilitary relations? TNI has pledged to gradually phase out its
\nparticipation in public affairs.<\/p>\n
This (phasing out) is now being accelerated by Gus Dur. He's
\ngiving important positions to the Navy and Air Force and those
\nwho are more professional, and he has been getting Wiranto's
\npeople out of the picture.<\/p>\n
Are those who support Gus Dur doing so because they see a
\nchance for more professionalism in the military?<\/p>\n
What is more important is that they don't want to be seen as
\ngoing against the President's orders, and that would make the
\nmilitary's name even worse.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military is now fragmented, it is cornered and
\nit is no longer an expert in playing strategies.<\/p>\n
The current situation seems to indicate that civilian rule has
\nthe upper hand. How long do you think this will last in civilian-
\nmilitary relations?<\/p>\n
Now that will greatly depend on you, the media. You people
\nthink that now you have press freedom, you can say anything, but
\nI am frequently angered by the fact that many of you don't have a
\nvision of democracy, you don't know what to do with that freedom.<\/p>\n
Many people don't understand the situation regarding many
\nissues and they turn to the press. With a lot of bad press about
\nGus Dur, many members of the public have become angry toward him.<\/p>\n
The media claims to be quoting sources. For instance, the
\ndemands to dissolve the government-sanctioned Commission of
\nInquiry into Human Rights Violations (KPP HAM) in East Timor, and
\nthe questioning of why only \"good\" Muslim generals, including
\nWiranto, are being persecuted.<\/p>\n
Such views are from small groups, why are they blown up?
\nSo what if the generals are Muslim, they're just generals.<\/p>\n
There must be a vision of democracy, and one core of this
\n(vision) is the supremacy of civilians over the military.<\/p>\n
Why do you think civilians cannot stick together on this
\nissue?<\/p>\n
They (who are unsupportive of Gus Dur's actions on the
\nmilitary) are puny anyway -- the bottom line is the military
\ncannot play politics.<\/p>\n
What is the implication of the present situation on Gus Dur's
\nCabinet?<\/p>\n
With this tension he has the opportunity to revise his
\nCabinet. He could go as far as suggesting that all ministers step
\ndown and he form a new one, and make sure it no longer includes
\nrotten people.<\/p>\n
Initially (in the Cabinet formation) he was being
\naccommodative toward Wiranto, but that was assuming Wiranto was
\nquite strong. Then he experimented with de-Wirantosasi, getting
\nWiranto's people out, and he succeeded, and became bold enough in
\nthe case of KPP HAM.<\/p>\n
But Gus Dur should not play \"politics in exile\" (by making
\nstatements during his ongoing overseas journey). He should get
\ntogether with (Vice President) Megawati Soekarnoputri, (Speaker
\nof the House) Akbar Tandjung, and prepare a strategy.<\/p>\n
We can see that every time he makes a statement about some
\nissue he is experimenting, trying out reactions ...<\/p>\n
What do you suggest Gus Dur should do?<\/p>\n
He should assure a firm division of power within his
\nadministration. What he is doing is now effective only for
\nenlarging his power through (seeking support of) foreign
\ngovernments. What should be done is to use that power with a
\nbetter, measurable plan, which would be useful to the people.<\/p>\n
This is his problem while his power now is far larger than the
\nprevious regime. Power is relative and depends on effective
\nmanagement. Why would you want to increase your power if you
\ndon't use it effectively? It's no use. (anr)<\/p>",
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