House fails to pin down Endriartono on reform<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesian Military (TNI) chief candidate Gen. Endriartono
\nSutarto fell short on Wednesday of presenting his vision for the
\nfuture of the TNI to the House of Representatives (DPR).<\/p>\n
What he came up with instead mostly consisted of wide-ranging
\npledges not unlike those made by politicians campaigning to get
\nthemselves elected in a poll.<\/p>\n
The TNI's mission, he said, was to complete its internal
\nrestructuring so as to turn it into a professional defense force.<\/p>\n
\"This can be accomplished by following up on the agenda of
\ninternal reform, mainly changing the soldiers' culture,\" said the
\nArmy chief of staff.<\/p>\n
He also pledged to turn TNI soldiers into professional and
\ndisciplined troops who respected human rights.<\/p>\n
\"We will help with the implementation of humanitarian
\nmissions,\" Endriartono said referring to the TNI's various
\nmissions, including those related to the United Nations.<\/p>\n
Endriartono also pledged that military promotions would be
\nbased on merit.<\/p>\n
\"We will upgrade the welfare of soldiers by imposing fair
\ncompetition and rewarding their achievements and professionalism,
\nas well as imposing sanctions on those who violate the law,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
What was conspicuously lacking was a vision of what the TNI
\nwould become in, say, five years from now.<\/p>\n
During the hearing, which lasted from 9:20 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
\n-- with an hour's lunch break -- the legislators raised numerous
\nquestions including some very basic ones:<\/p>\n
\"How tall are you?\" asked one.<\/p>\n
Part of the blame for Endriartono's easy ride must rest with
\nthe legislators, who lacked persistence in trying to extract the
\nfour-star general's vision for the TNI's future.<\/p>\n
The hearing began with Endriartono's presentation of a 20-page
\npaper titled \"Developing Professionalism; Changing the Essence of
\nthe Military into a State Defense Force\".<\/p>\n
It took three hours for Endriartono to finish his explanations
\nand to listen to the questions of 23 legislators.<\/p>\n
The legislators reluctance to grill Endriartono was apparent
\nfrom the beginning of the hearing as only 39 of the 57-strong
\ncommission showed up. Later, the number rose to 45 members.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, commission chairman Ibrahim Ambong confirmed
\nthat all nine factions in the House had responded positively to
\nthe hearing. A recommendation from the commission was to be
\npresented to House leaders on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The law requires the House's approval of a military chief
\ncandidate proposed by the President.<\/p>\n
Arif Mudatsir Mandan of the United Development Party (PPP)
\nclaimed there was not enough time for the legislators to obtain
\ndetailed information from Endriartono.<\/p>\n
\"But at least we heard his (Endriartono's) commitment to
\nboosting military professionalism, democracy and the well-being
\nof the foot soldiers,\" Arif told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Some legislators also questioned the decision of Military
\nCommander Adm. Widodo A.S. to extend Endriartono's commission
\nuntil 2007.<\/p>\n
Bambang Sadono of the Golkar faction feared the decision would
\naffect the professionalism of the military. But Endriartono said
\nthat the policy was in line with Law No. 2\/1988 on career
\nextensions that made it possible for a four-star general to get a
\nfive-year extension.<\/p>\n
According to Endriartono, he had in January informed Adm.
\nWidodo that he was approaching the mandatory retirement age of
\n55, but the military chief had decided to extend his commission
\nuntil 2007.<\/p>\n
During the hearing, Endriartono cracked some jokes apparently
\nto win the sympathy of the legislators.<\/p>\n
\"Had my military commission not been extended, I could be
\nsitting in the front row as the commission chairman. Or perhaps,
\nI could have joined Golkar,\" said Endriartono.<\/p>\n
Responding to a concern expressed by Tengku Muhibuddin Waly of
\nthe Daulatul Ummah (PDU) faction that many soldiers had committed
\nrights abuses, Endriartono said that soldiers were human beings
\nwho sometimes made mistakes.<\/p>\n
\"I don't want to make excuses, but a few soldiers violating
\nthe rules is normal. Pak Waly is my old friend,\" he said
\nlaughing.<\/p>\n
Endriartono also emphasized that being a former commander of
\nthe Presidential Guard during the Soeharto era did not
\nnecessarily mean that he was a defender of the New Order regime.<\/p>\n
Serving as a Presidential Guard was a professional job and
\nshould not be confused with politics, he said<\/p>\n
\"It was not Soeharto that the Presidential Guards were
\nprotecting, but the president,\" he said.<\/p>",
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