JP\/2\/TNI<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro and
\nTertiani ZB Simanjuntak
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Observers have expressed doubts that internal reform within the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) will materialize despite the pressure
\nfrom the United States, which has pledged to resume its military
\nassistance in return.<\/p>\n
M. Rifqie Moena of the RiDEP Institute and Anas Saidi of the
\nIndonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) stated their opinions on
\nSunday that TNI internal reform remained mere lip service since
\nits inception three years ago as evidenced by the military's
\nfailure to let itself be controlled by the civilian government as
\nnormally happens in democratic countries.<\/p>\n
Rifqie said Washington had made an incorrect assessment if it
\njustified its plan to normalize its cooperation with the TNI on
\nthe grounds that Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim
\ncountry, was considered a safe haven for international
\nterrorists.<\/p>\n
It was poor law enforcement, according to Rifqie, that had
\nprovided a fertile breeding ground for terrorism in many Asian
\ncountries, including Indonesia, instead of their large Muslim
\npopulations.<\/p>\n
\"If the U.S. decides to resume military ties with Indonesia
\nwithout any other policies to support the country's legal
\nreforms, such efforts will be fruitless,\" Rifqie told The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
Recently, the U.S. deputy defense secretary and former
\nambassador to Indonesia, Paul Wolfowitz, offered to resume
\nmilitary aid -- which had been halted due to gross human rights
\nabuses in East Timor in 1999 -- under certain conditions,
\nincluding progress by the TNI on its reforms and its being held
\nto account for the crimes it committed in the past.<\/p>\n
Rifqie said TNI reform also meant that the TNI should give up
\nits territorial role and business interests, as well as its dual
\nfunction doctrine in a bid to produce more professional soldiers.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that so far the TNI had only succeeded in
\nseparating itself from the National Police and restricting
\nserving officers from taking up posts in the bureaucracy, as well
\nas professing neutrality in party politics, none of which changes
\nwere substantial.<\/p>\n
Anas deemed the current political situation to not be
\nconducive for military reform as President Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nstill adhered fiercely to the concept of the unitary republic,
\nwhich gave plenty of leeway for the TNI to exercise its power,
\nostensibly on behalf of unity and integrity.<\/p>\n
\"Now, despite all the hopes for military reform, things have
\nreturned to square one with the TNI playing dirty, vulgar games
\nand ignoring the political aspirations of the civilian
\npopulation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
To reform the military, he said, the political elite and the
\nlegislators should be aware that the TNI was being allowed to
\ndefine itself in its own interests despite the demands of the
\npublic.<\/p>\n
The brouhaha concerning the appointment of a new TNI chief was
\nthe latest proof that reform had never taken root in the armed
\nforces.<\/p>\n
Despite widespread support for the top TNI post to be rotated
\namong the different branches of the military, the President
\nnominated Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto for the
\nposition.<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives has approved Endriartono's
\ncandidacy. Criticism has been strident from many observers,
\nincluding Lt. Gen. Agus Widjojo, a deputy speaker of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly representing the National Police\/Military
\nfaction.<\/p>\n
Rumors have circulated over the past few days that Army's
\nStrategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) chief Lt. Gen. Ryamizard
\nRyacudu will take over from Endriartono as Army chief and hand
\nover his current post to Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen.
\nBibit Waluyo.<\/p>\n
There has been no official statement confirming the rumors,
\nbut a Kostrad officer said the command was preparing three
\nbanners in anticipation of Ryamizard being promoted.<\/p>\n
\"We have been asked to prepare three banners, one for Pak
\nBibit (Waluyo), while the others are for Pak Amirul and Pak Adam
\n(Damiri),\" the officer, who requested anonymity, said.<\/p>\n
Dozens of troops were seen rehearsing on Sunday in the Senayan
\nparking lot for \"a possible reshuffle in the Army's top ranks\".<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp2tni-1447899208",
"image": ""
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