'Military's territorial role no longer relevant'<\/p>\n
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The territorial function the Indonesian Military (TNI) has
\nadopted for the past four decades is no longer relevant and
\nshould be immediately phased out, a seminar concluded.<\/p>\n
Andi Wijayanto from the University of Indonesia and Kusnanto
\nAnggoro from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies
\nsaid the territorial function violated the reform spirit because
\nit ignored the principles of democracy.<\/p>\n
"Democracy requires civilian control over the military.
\nHowever, under the territorial system the military has the
\ncomprehensive ability to impinge on the duties carried out by
\ncivilians," Andi told participants of a seminar titled
\nTerritorial Command and Indonesian Defense Policy in the Future.<\/p>\n
The one-day seminar was sponsored by the Research Institute
\nfor Democracy and Peace.<\/p>\n
The territorial function materialized in the form of regional
\nmilitary commands across the archipelago, which fall under the
\nauspices of the Army.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has 13 military commands, including the newly
\nreinstated one in Aceh, with more than 150,000 personnel.<\/p>\n
Each military command has an organizational structure similar
\nto that of a civilian government, spanning from the provincial to
\nthe village level.<\/p>\n
Observers have called the military territorial commands "a
\nshadow government". The system enabled former president
\nSoeharto's New Order regime to curb any potential challenges,
\nincluding from prodemocracy activists, and to exert wide-ranging
\ncontrol over every aspect of life.<\/p>\n
Andi said the system had numerous ill effects, including
\nabductions and torture committed by territorial arms of the
\nmilitary.<\/p>\n
The fall of Soeharto's New Order regime and the resulting
\nreform movement ignited nationwide resistance to the military's
\nterritorial function.<\/p>\n
Kusnanto said the territorial system suggested that threats to
\nIndonesia came not only from foreign parties, but also from
\npeople inside the country.<\/p>\n
"In practice, paranoia spread through the military and as a
\nresult they perceived protests and other social dynamics as real
\nthreats that had to be dealt with completely," he told
\nparticipants.<\/p>\n
In order to put an end to the negative effects of the
\nmilitary's extensive involvement in social and political affairs,
\nthe territorial system must be phased out, Kusnanto said.<\/p>\n
He said the end of the Cold War meant that the possibility of
\ninvasion by a foreign country in the foreseeable future was
\nvirtually nil.<\/p>\n
"Also, the modern warfare does not require permanent
\noccupation by other countries, since this would be politically
\nexpensive and unpopular," he said.<\/p>\n
Kusnanto said other parties would need to participate in the
\ngradual elimination of the territorial system.<\/p>\n
He also said changes were needed in how decisions regarding
\nthe nation's defense policy were made, a process currently
\ndominated by the Indonesian Military.<\/p>\n
"It is timely that all parties be involved in the making of
\ndefense policy, in order that the implementation of the policy
\nwill not violate human rights and democracy," he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/militarys-territorial-role-no-longer-relevant-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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