Parties want TNI dual function reviewed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The dominant role of the military is one of the
\nmost serious constraints to democracy, say reform-minded
\nstudents. The students have been at odds with politicians and
\nlegislators, most of whom call for compromises.<\/p>\n
One event that started controversy was last November's General
\nSession of the People's Consultative Assembly, which decided to
\nallocate 38 non-elected seats to the Armed Forces.<\/p>\n
Students got leading politicians -- Megawati Soekarnoputri,
\nAbdurrahman Wahid and Amien Rais -- to draw up a statement to
\nensure reforms run on track. One point in this \"Ciganjur
\nDeclaration\" referred to the phasing out of the military's role
\nin politics over six years, which was too long for the students.<\/p>\n
Minister of Defense and Security\/Armed Forces (now Indonesian
\nMilitary) Commander Gen. Wiranto apologized for the military's
\npast mistakes, and announced it was reforming and \"repositioning\"
\nitself. The military, he said, would now merely use its influence
\nwhere necessary to benefit the nation's interests, and would not
\ncontinue to play a major sociopolitical role.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year he said that the approximately 4,000
\nofficers in civilian positions should decide by early April
\nwhether to keep their jobs and retire from the military, or
\nreturn to the barracks.<\/p>\n
On April 1, Gen. Wiranto announced the separation of the
\nNational Police from the Armed Forces, after which the military
\nreintroduced the name TNI, or Indonesian Military. The military
\nthen argued that because the law stating that the Armed Forces
\nincludes the police has not been revoked, police should still be
\nallotted seats in the House. Police will have five of the 38
\nseats.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, allegations continue that the military has acted
\nincapably and has been involved in continued violence and rights
\nabuses. Analysts say it will be difficult to tear the military
\naway from its many and lucrative financial interests.<\/p>\n
A few weeks ahead of the elections, political party leaders
\ncontacted by The Jakarta Post said they wanted a far less
\ndominant military, but there were differences in how far they
\nwanted to take this point.<\/p>\n
Muhaimin Iskandar, secretary-general of the National Awakening
\nParty (PKB), said it is undeniable that the military should
\nincrease its professionalism, and let go its sociopolitical role
\n-- the dwifungsi, or dual function, military doctrine.<\/p>\n
\"But the process should be gradual,\" Muhaimin said. \"It is not
\nrealistic to force the military to quit its political involvement
\nwhile active officers still hold positions in the executive,
\nlegislative and judicial bodies.\" There should be a deadline for
\nthe end of TNI's involvement in politics, he said. \"PKB thinks
\nthat the deadline should be 2004, or five years from now.<\/p>\n
\"In 2004, there should no longer be legislators from the
\nmilitary,\" Muhaimin said.<\/p>\n
Faisal Basri, secretary-general of the National Mandate Party
\n(PAN), says the party has always insisted on an end to \"intense
\ninvolvement\" of the military in civilian matters.<\/p>\n
\"Their political involvement has made the nation a dependent
\ncommunity. The military has also developed a bureaucratic and
\nhierarchical mechanism (in civilian life) which has been
\nmanipulated for the benefit of the status quo.<\/p>\n
\"Within the next five years... the military's dual function
\nmust be gradually reduced... in practice, not only in words.<\/p>\n
\"TNI's presence in the legislative body should in the future
\nbe limited to the People's Consultative Assembly, but not in the
\n(law making) House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
Faisal also says it would be hard to expect changes as \"most
\nof the military elite have enjoyed all the benefits and close
\nrelations with the bureaucracy and conglomerates\".<\/p>\n
\"However, it's good that the police have been separated from
\nthe Armed Forces. We only need to continue the process.\"<\/p>\n
From the Justice and Unity Party (PKP), set up by retired
\nofficers and other executives of the Golkar Party, deputy
\nchairman Sutradara Gintings stressed that what really needs
\ncorrecting is the placement of officers in executive positions.
\nHe supported Wiranto's announcement that they should choose
\nbetween the military and civilian positions.<\/p>\n
The Democratic People's Party (PRD) has described how the
\nmilitary has also influenced civilian life through its
\n\"territorial\" positions down to the village level.<\/p>\n
For PKP, Sutradara said, \"repositioning would also mean that
\nthe military should establish an equal distance to all political
\nparties.\" He also said that, in the future, military
\nrepresentation would only be acceptable in the People's
\nConsultative Assembly, not in the House.<\/p>\n
For the Indonesian Democratic Union Party (PUDI), there is
\nclearly no compromise. Its former jailed chairman, Sri Bintang
\nPamungkas, who was a legislator, said: \"The Armed Forces' social
\nand political function must be revoked without any reserve.\"<\/p>\n
\"Constitutionally, the military's presence in the House is
\ngroundless, as legislators should be elected. It's also
\nunreasonable to have Armed Forces members in the Assembly, as all
\nelements of the nation are actually already represented by
\nlegislators, through their respective parties.\"<\/p>\n
PUDI, he added, welcomes the military's decree to have
\nofficers choose between civilian jobs or their military
\npositions.<\/p>\n
\"PUDI wants the Armed Forces to become a professional military
\nentity, whose main duties are to protect and safeguard the
\ncountry and the nation from external threats. The Armed Forces is
\nalso expected to be neutral in political conflicts.\"<\/p>\n
PUDI also welcomes the separation of the police force from the
\nArmed Forces, he added, as this would enhance both forces'
\nprofessionalism.<\/p>\n
Deputy secretary-general of the New Indonesia Party (PIB)
\nHadawi Ilham said the military's sociopolitical role had
\ndeveloped way out of line with the original doctrine of the
\n1940s, which was mainly to protect the people.<\/p>\n
The military's non-elected representation in the House was
\nagainst the Constitution, he said, and their argument that they
\nwere needed to \"safeguard the state ideology Pancasila\" could not
\nbe accepted either. \"All elements of the nation have agreed that
\nPancasila is the only state ideology, (therefore) TNI's presence
\nin the House is no longer needed.\"<\/p>\n
PIB also wants an end to the placement of military officers in
\nthe bureaucracy and civilian positions.<\/p>\n
If PIB wins seats, Hadawi said, \"PIB will strive for the
\neradication of the Armed Forces' dual function in the
\ndeliberation of the bill on the military in future sessions of
\nthe House.\" (imn\/edt)<\/p>",
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