Juwono speaks on Maluku tragedy<\/p>\n
The military has been censured for its inability to stop the
\nviolence in the Maluku islands. Minister of Defense Juwono
\nSudarsono candidly spoke to The Jakarta Post's reporter Fabiola
\nDesy Unidjadja about this and the political situation as a whole.<\/p>\n
Question: In the consultation meeting (with the House of
\nRepresentatives) on the Maluku issue, you said there were demands
\nfor legal action against certain Army personnel in the province.
\nIs there any proof of their involvement in the violence?<\/p>\n
Answer: From the beginning there were soldiers stationed there
\nwho, maybe because of their innate sympathies, began to take
\nsides. And, according to local legislators, there were
\nuncontrollable factors, or possible even an intention on the part
\nof the Army as an institution, which allowed the clashes go on.<\/p>\n
Now there are 17 battalions from the Army, two from the police
\nand some marine units. Police and marines are no problem there.<\/p>\n
There are some, or even many, members of the Army, according
\nto information gathered from both of the warring camps, who have
\nbecome a major cause of the clashes.<\/p>\n
Q: Are you saying these soldiers provoked or helped the clashes
\nspread?<\/p>\n
A: In facilitating. For example, there was a container loaded
\nwith firearms entering the area. They did nothing about it, they
\nlet it enter.<\/p>\n
Q: Are there high-ranking officers masterminding all this?<\/p>\n
A: That's it. They regret the military replacing Max Tamaela (who
\nserved as Pattimura Military Commander till June), but at the
\nsame time promoting him.<\/p>\n
They question how much control Army Headquarters has, how
\neffective the Army command structure is in Maluku?<\/p>\n
There are some local Maluku legislators who claim that they
\n(the officers) are a cancer and the source of their financing
\nshould be investigated.<\/p>\n
There are also indications that they are associated with
\nformer president Soeharto and B.J. Habibie's cronies.<\/p>\n
Q: Are you sure these Army officers are linked to Soeharto and
\nHabibie?<\/p>\n
A: Both civilians and Army officers. We are still investigating
\nit, but still haven't found enough concrete evidence.<\/p>\n
However, we should differentiate between the Army as an
\ninstitution, medium-sized units, and small units.<\/p>\n
Let's just describe the problem as one involving certain Army
\npersonnel, because although the command structure and commanders
\nhave changed, there are many from the ancient regime still
\nfilling lower positions.<\/p>\n
The army should get rid of these soldiers.<\/p>\n
The key question is who provides the money, who sends the
\nguns? They must have strong financial support.<\/p>\n
There must be financial support from Jakarta, that's why we
\nhave to cut-off the links with this cancer. There are very strong
\nindications but they are hard to verify.<\/p>\n
Q: How are you going to prevent this from happening again?<\/p>\n
A: The Ministry of Defense is not directly in charge of the chain
\nof command. I cannot order them around...both the minister of
\ndefense and the military chiefs are subordinates of the
\nPresident. We are equals.<\/p>\n
All I can give is advice and policy inputs to rehabilitate the
\nentire Army.<\/p>\n
I have some advice with regard to the whole issue of the Army
\ndeployment and how to replace Army units which have been
\nstationed there for over six months and have become involved (in
\nthe conflict).<\/p>\n
First by separating these units from the conflict-prone areas
\n(in Maluku) and assigning them to medium conflict areas and to
\nsecure areas.<\/p>\n
I still believe a majority of the Army won't take sides with
\nthe warring factions.<\/p>\n
Q: Many are questioning why the military seems slow in resolving
\nthese conflicts and are even suggesting foreign assistance...<\/p>\n
A: The TNI and National Police can still cope, and in three
\nmonths things will calm down. Within two or three months there
\nwill be a more conducive atmosphere. We don't need outside help.<\/p>\n
We are also not planning to send too many troops outside the
\ncapital ahead of the upcoming General Session (of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly).<\/p>\n
I understand that people have high hopes of my office. I know
\nI have a national and international audience watching the
\ntransition to happen inside the military.<\/p>\n
But there are also high demands for me because of the serious
\nsituation in the country that I have to handle...But give me
\nthree months, things will be a different.<\/p>\n
The problems in Maluku started in January 1999. Back then
\nthere should already have been military action, but people
\ncomplained that the military might take excessive measures.<\/p>\n
Now that we have decreed a state of civil emergency, we are
\ncondemned again. People say we are too late.<\/p>\n
These are the same people who criticized us for taking
\nexcessive measures. You just cannot win with these people.<\/p>\n
I understand that many people are clamoring for my head. I
\ndon't know why. This is definitely not the easiest job in the
\nworld.<\/p>\n
Q: What's your opinion of the current political chaos in relation
\nto the many clashes on the ground?<\/p>\n
A: We appeal to all political leaders and political analysts, to
\ntone down their political contest as it has negative consequences
\nfor people on the ground. They should be very careful what they
\nsay.<\/p>\n
The most dangerous threat is not the military, because they
\naren't unified enough and they don't have a desire to take over
\nthe government.<\/p>\n
The real danger is political backsliding, there is too much
\ndemocracy, too many talking heads who just talk, too much
\nbrainstorming but nothing except storms. The civilian authority
\nmust be successful.<\/p>\n
Political parties must become institutionalized. We are good
\nat creating movements, but not at getting organized. We need a
\nleader like the Indian Sitting Bull, but all we get are bull
\nshitter leaders.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/juwono-speaks-on-maluku-tragedy-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}