Respected institutions prone to internal conflict: Observers<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A noted historian warned on Thursday that the country was prone
\nto collapse due to the absence of credible institutions or forces
\nthat could hold it together.<\/p>\n
Anhar Gonggong of the University of Indonesia (UI) pointed out
\nthat even the Indonesian Military (TNI), which has always claimed
\nto be a solid force responsible for national unity, was riddled
\nwith internal conflicts and intrigues.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia is prone to collapse despite claims that it is a
\nunitary state. Look at what happens in Aceh and Papua, where
\nangry people fight for independence, or even Riau, where an
\nindependence movement has emerged,\" Anhar said at the launch of
\nMaj. Gen. (ret) Kivlan Zen's book \"Konflik dan Integrasi TNI-AD\"
\n(Conflicts and the Integration of the Army).<\/p>\n
The book details conflicts, cliques and intrigues within the
\nArmy since its establishment in 1945 to the present day.<\/p>\n
\"The military, which has long claimed to be the only
\nrespectable institution, has to publicly admit that it is not as
\nfirm as it once was,\" Anhar said.<\/p>\n
\"From the book, we could say that the country is yet to
\ncomplete its journey so that people can call it a unitary state,\"
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
Kivlan, former chief of staff of the Army's Strategic Reserves
\nCommand (Kostrad), also wrote of internal conflicts within the
\nNavy, the Air Force, and the National Police, although he did not
\ndiscuss these at length.<\/p>\n
The book also deals with the formation of controversial
\nmilitia groups ahead of the 1998 extraordinary meeting of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
It describes an order from then TNI chief Gen. Wiranto to
\nKivlan to hire thousands of youths to block demonstrating
\nstudents from disrupting the meeting.<\/p>\n
Clashes erupted between militia groups called Pamswakarsa, who
\nwere armed with sharpened bamboo sticks, and the students, in
\nwhich at least 10 people from both camps were killed.<\/p>\n
According to Kusnanto Anggoro, a military observer from the
\nCenter for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the
\nchapter disclosed new facts about the existence of a chain of
\ncommand from \"the superiors to the subordinate\".<\/p>\n
\"Up until now, the hierarchy of the military has been blurred,
\nand in many cases, the institution may sacrifice its personnel if
\ntheir actions tarnish the institution's image, no matter if they
\ncarry out their superiors' orders.<\/p>\n
\"It has almost become a habit for the military to 'legitimize'
\ntheir wrongdoings -- I wonder (what would happen) if they led the
\ncountry,\" Kusnanto said.<\/p>\n
Wiranto is one of five presidential candidates contesting the
\nJuly 5 election, the country's first direct presidential
\nelection.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Kivlan said, the launch of his book did not have
\nany political motive, he merely sought to \"tell the public the
\ntruth.\"<\/p>\n
\"I wish Pak Wiranto would revise his book, Bersaksi di Tengah
\nBadai (A Testimony Amid the Storm), in which he said that he
\ndidn't know about the establishment of Pamswakarsa,\" Kivlan said.<\/p>\n
Anhar supported Kivlan's words, saying that Wiranto should
\nwithdraw from the presidential race if \"he is a statesman,
\ninstead of a politician.\"<\/p>",
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