Politicians slam plan for TNI<\/p>\n
Tb. Arie Rukmantara, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military's (TNI) plan to reactivate its
\nterritorial command drew strong criticism from the country's top
\npoliticians on Thursday as they claimed the move would pave the
\nway for the military's involvement in politics.<\/p>\n
\"Reviving the territorial command is the wrong medicine for
\nthe disease we are dealing with. The move is only a tool to
\nrevive militarism. We should oppose that kind of intention as
\nearly as possible,\" said former president Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\"
\nWahid on Thursday in a press conference held at headquarters of
\nthe country's largest Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
\nin Jakarta.<\/p>\n
TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said on Wednesday that he
\nwould take the necessary measures to crack down on terrorist
\nattacks in the country by reactivating the military's territorial
\ncommand. He announced the plan after President Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono, speaking at the 60th anniversary of the TNI, urged the
\nmilitary to take an active role in the fight against terrorism
\nfollowing the recent bomb blasts in Bali, which killed 22 people.<\/p>\n
The territorial function covers the regional level, handled by
\nthe Regional Military Command (Kodam) to the village level,
\nhandled by non-commissioned officers assigned to villages and
\nsubdistricts.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur said he doubted that the move would be an effective
\nmeans to stop terrorists from taking action in the country.<\/p>\n
\"Who can guarantee that reviving it will make the country any
\nsafer? I don't think so. What is certain is that it will bring
\nthe country back to an authoritarian state,\" he said, adding that
\nthe military should only focus on defense issues and let internal
\nsecurity issues be handled by the police.<\/p>\n
Speaking along the same lines, Speaker of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) Hidayat Nur Wahid said the move was
\ninappropriate because the military should only support the
\nNational Police and National Intelligence Agency (BIN) in
\nfighting terrorism, not take over the job.<\/p>\n
\"The function of the police and BIN should first be maximized.
\nTherefore, I question the purpose of reviving the territorial
\ncommand. If the military wants to support the National Police,
\nthen support its intelligence system,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He feared that the plan would create conflict between the
\nmilitary and police officers as well as BIN's intelligence
\nofficers in the field.<\/p>\n
\"I'm afraid there could be a conflict over who has the
\nauthority to take important decisions. As we have seen, conflicts
\noften happen between police and military officers because of the
\nblurred division of authority,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A political observer from the Centre for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies, J. Kristiadi, said that the move was a
\nviolation of Law No. 34\/2004 on the military, which stipulates
\nthat the TNI territorial function shall be eliminated within five
\nyears after the law is issued.<\/p>\n
\"Reviving the territorial command is against the law,\" he
\nsaid, adding that the military should only be involved in
\nsecurity matters if the police ask for their help.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, former deputy chief of staff of the Army Lt. Gen.
\nKiki Syahnakrie said that the only short term solution to
\nfighting terrorism was by reviving the territorial command of the
\nTNI.<\/p>\n
He cited that one of the successes of the territorial
\ncommand's function was the immediate solving of the Borobudur
\ntemple bombing case in 1985.<\/p>\n
\"Why was it safer during the New Order government? Because at
\nthat time, the territorial function was stronger and was
\nsupported by the anti-subversion law, which was revoked at the
\nbeginning of the reform era,\" he told Antara.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/politicians-slam-plan-for-tni-1447893297",
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