Mr. Kusnanto, please give facts<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI) should be grateful to Mr.
\nKusnanto, a senior researcher at the Center for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies, and who is also teaching at the University
\nof Indonesia. He wrote in The Jakarta Post's Sept. 28, 2000
\nedition an article titled Gus Dur struggles to control TNI, in
\nwhich you will find two interesting points about Gus Dur and the
\nmilitary, both of which are shocking revelations to me.<\/p>\n
That article attracted my attention because the contents are
\nnew and beyond my imagination. It showed that people with a sharp
\nanalytical mind can draw conclusions from existing information,
\nand draw conclusions beyond the common man's expectations.<\/p>\n
Mr. Kusnanto revealed in his first point the ambition of Gus
\nDur, a well-known political leader with a massive religious
\norganization behind him. After feeling that it is not so bad
\nbeing a president, he is now preparing for his future political
\nrole. And obviously in his preparation he needs the backing of
\nthe TNI, an organization hated by the politicians and the focus
\nof harsh criticism almost everyday, but in reality is still a
\nfactor to be seriously considered.<\/p>\n
Mr. Kusnanto wrote that Gus Dur struggles to control TNI. Mr.
\nKusnanto did not write the President struggles to control TNI,
\nbecause as President he is the legal Supreme Commander in Chief
\nof the Army, Navy and Air Force as is clearly stipulated in
\nChapter II Article 10 of the 1945 Constitution. So, as President
\nhe should have no problem at all in controlling the TNI.<\/p>\n
But Gus Dur is looking far ahead, at the time when he has to
\nstep down as President, but still has the ambition to be a
\nnational political leader. He realizes how important the TNI is.
\nYou read so many things about the TNI, but the fact remains that
\nthe TNI is still a political power. You just cannot put it aside
\nand ignore it.<\/p>\n
The second point which surprised me even more is the
\nobservation Mr. Kusnanto wrote about the TNI's production of
\ncounterfeit money to finance their illegal operations. What kind
\nof illegal operation is the TNI conducting and why? This is
\nreally news to me. But what shocked me most is the fact that the
\nTNI is now being accused by Mr. Kusnanto of assassinating the
\nleading candidate for the governor's post in Aceh. The TNI is
\ndemoralized and there is a situation of chaos in its line of
\ncommand. Many in the military are still living in the romantic
\nrevolutionary past.<\/p>\n
This culture and self-image appears to be a self imposed
\nrestriction for reform. The chief of territorial affairs in the
\nTNI headquarters, Lt. Gen. Agus Widjojo, has explained that the
\nmilitary cannot continue to base itself purely on history but
\nshould concentrate on becoming professional. If I had the courage
\nto antagonize such a prominent researcher then I would say that
\nhis accusations that officers at the top have no way of
\ncontrolling the actions of junior officers should be backed by
\nfacts, stating with who, when and where all these incidents
\nhappened. Is the TNI really running out of steam? How sad! And
\nwho will be the loser in such a scenario? Not only the TNI, but
\nalso the people.<\/p>\n
SOEGIH ARTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mr-kusnanto-please-give-facts-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }