How reformist can the Indonesian Military be?<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Military (TNI) began its internal
\nreform in 1998. But, has the reform had an impact on TNI and its
\npersonnel. Air Force Chief of Staff Marshall Hanafie Asnan looks
\nat the implementation of the policy.<\/p>\n
Question: What benefit has the internal reform contributed
\nto the Air Force?<\/p>\n
Answer: The internal reform has made us more confident in
\nperforming our duties. This is due to the new doctrine introduced
\nthat in facing a war, the three military branches (the Army, the
\nNavy, the Air Force) perform their responsibilities together as a
\nunited force without one dominating the others.<\/p>\n
This condition did not exist in the past, even in the earlier
\nperiod when I was appointed as the Air Force chief in 1998. Now,
\nall forces are supposed to be equal.<\/p>\n
The Army dominated TNI in the past. Has the 'domination'
\ndecreased?<\/p>\n
I admit that it (the Army's domination) can still be felt
\nuntil now. And those used to that situation will react negatively
\nwhen the power is taken from them.<\/p>\n
While talking about equality, will you be disappointed if in
\nthe next military reshuffle, the leadership of TNI will not be
\ngiven to an Air Force general, considering the Air Force now
\nholds the TNI leadership?<\/p>\n
As a soldier, I must accept that the government has the
\nauthority to decide military leadership. Equality does not mean
\nthat the rotation system in appointing the TNI leadership is a
\nmust. As long as the post is held by the right person, I don't
\nhave any objection. I, myself, will not encourage my members to
\nchallenge the government's decision.<\/p>\n
What about the opinion by certain people that the Air Force
\ndoes not have enough 'flight hours' to hold the TNI leadership?<\/p>\n
It's the opinion of people who do not understand about the
\nmilitary organization. I believe everyone has the capability to
\nlead, no matter whether he is from the Navy, Army or Air Force.
\nHowever, I admit that if an Air Force officer holds the
\nmilitary's top position, we should be aware that the other forces
\nmight mess with us.<\/p>\n
How do you see the existence of the TNI faction in the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly\/ House of Representatives
\n(MPR\/DPR)?<\/p>\n
The presence of the TNI faction in the MPR\/DPR is probably
\nbecause the political parties are not ready to be politically
\nindependent or the political elite expect TNI support. In this
\ncase, the TNI faction in considered as their (politicians')
\ninstrument.<\/p>\n
Currently, the only Air Force senior officer holding a
\nsignificant position in TNI is Vice Marshal Ian Santoso who
\nchairs the Military Intelligence Strategic Agency (Bais). How
\ncapable is the Air Force's intelligence apparatus?<\/p>\n
The Bais organization is mostly run by Army personnel from the
\nRegional Military commands or the Army Special Force (Kopassus).
\nAir Force personnel were once excluded from Bais several years
\nago. Now, with the new structure, we hope we can create a war
\nintelligence with good ability to predict the power of any enemy
\nand to protect our country from threats by other countries. In
\nthe past, our intelligence body covered a wide range of
\nactivities, including to spy on common people and businessmen. It
\nwas totally unprofessional.<\/p>\n
Do you agree with the opinion that our intelligence is weak?<\/p>\n
Yes, I do. Because, currently bombings occur without prior
\nwarning or detection. But, I wonder whether the bombings occurred
\nbecause of our poor intelligence capability, or were our
\nintelligence personnel involved?<\/p>\n
What has been the result of lobbying efforts to countries that
\nhad suspended military aid to Indonesia?<\/p>\n
Positive. I've met with the British Ambassador to Indonesia
\nand asked him to lift the suspension on military aid. I asked him
\nhow can Indonesia improve the professionalism of its military
\npersonnel if they imposed the embargo?<\/p>\n
Besides, the Air Force missions were not only to conduct
\nmilitary activities, but also to perform civic missions.<\/p>\n
Britain, a European country, will gladly lift the suspension.
\nUnfortunately, the United States has yet to lift it, and it gives
\nus a huge impact because most of our Air Force equipment came
\nfrom the United States.<\/p>\n
How do you perceive your relationship with the political
\nelite, including the President?<\/p>\n
People may think that I am close to the President or to the
\nVice President. In fact, I never feel like the President's man. I
\nhave been appointed to lead the Air Force because the state needs
\nme.<\/p>\n
Have the political elite really set TNI free to appoint its
\nown leadership?<\/p>\n
That is what TNI really expects ... that none of the political
\nelite interfere in TNI's internal affairs. Their intervention
\nwill make the military unprofessional and be much involved in
\npolitics. That's what is happening in TNI. But, I guess it's
\nnormal, particularly for those who are very ambitious and even
\nwilling 'to kiss the state leaders' hands' in order to get a
\nconvenient position. (Tiarma Siboro)<\/p>\n
Hanafie is a 1969 graduate of the Air Force Academy (AAU).
\nHe was born in Bangkalan, Madura, East Java, on Nov. 7, 1945.<\/p>",
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