JP\/7\/satya<\/p>\n
Stronger role in defense sought in white paper<\/p>\n
Satya Arinanto
\nLecturer
\nFaculty of Law
\nUniversity of Indonesia<\/p>\n
In a hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR) last
\nmonth, the Ministry of Defense's role was questioned by
\nlegislators from Commission I. The problems raised by
\nlegislators, among others, dealt with the purchase of four
\nfighter jets and two helicopters from Russia, which did not
\ninvolve the Ministry of Defense.<\/p>\n
The purchases instead reportedly involved the Ministry of
\nIndustry and Trade and the National Logistics Agency (Bulog).
\nReflecting on the case, legislators said the defense ministry's
\nrole should be increased. They are now bent on setting up a
\nspecial committee to examine the purchase of the Sukhoi aircraft.<\/p>\n
The ministry recently published a white paper on Indonesia:
\nDefending the Fatherland in Entering the 21st Century, which
\nstates it was published because of changing world politics and
\nglobalization that increases competition between nations. This
\nleads to the tight competition of influence, either in global,
\nregional or national levels.<\/p>\n
The ministry highlights some strategic issues, such as state
\nreform and defense; the global, regional, and national context;
\npossible threats and the strategic defense interest; the
\nstrategic policy in implementing state defense: and budget
\nsupport. By publishing this book, the ministry aims to involve
\nall parties, especially citizens, in implementing the state
\ndefense policies in defending the unitary state of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
After the era of past anxieties over the West and Eastern
\nblocks, particularly regarding the development of military power
\nand hegemony, current fears concern terrorism, piracy, hijacking,
\nsmuggling, immigration violations, illegal fishing and other
\ncross-border crimes.<\/p>\n
From the legal perspective, the publishing of this book was
\naimed to draft a politics of law as a basis to construct the
\nstrategy of the defense ministry's policy. From this point of
\nview, the purpose of this book is ideal. But from the viewpoint
\nof its implementation, especially from the case of not involving
\nthe ministry in the purchase of its military needs, the purpose
\nof publishing this book wasn't successful.<\/p>\n
The book also highlights that the urgent strategic security
\ninterests cannot be separated from permanent strategic security
\ninterests, given the significant increase in security issues. The
\nmain purpose of this combination is to maintain Indonesia's
\nnational integrity. This point of view is in line with the policy
\nto fight the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).<\/p>\n
The book also states that the use of security force is among
\nothers directed to face the threat and interference to national
\nsecurity. The TNI will use \"military operations other than war\"
\nto face threats such as terrorism and separatist movements such
\nas in Aceh, radical groups, and communal conflicts.<\/p>\n
Especially regarding the Aceh case, the book stated that the
\ngovernment would try to solve the issue based on the Cessation of
\nHostility Agreement (COHA) signed on Dec. 9 between the
\ngovernment and the GAM representatives. But it already stated
\nthat should the agreement fail to be implemented, the government
\nwould take other measure to maintain state sovereignty, the
\nunitary state and the safety of the Aceh people.<\/p>\n
It remains to be clear how far the defense ministry was really
\ninvolved in the eventual decision to declare a military emergency
\nand the \"integrated operation\" in Aceh, even though the
\npossibility to that end was already suggested in the White Paper.<\/p>\n
In the future, we hope the Ministry of Defense will have a
\nsignificant role in implementing its policy as written in the
\nwhite paper. This is part of the steps that need to be taken to
\ndevelop a strong defense system, which not only involves society,
\nbut most importantly, the ministry itself.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp7satya-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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