Soldiers' unholy war<\/p>\n
After a two month pause, students returned to the streets of
\nJakarta last week, while security personnel also reappeared to
\ndemonstrate their inclination for unnecessary violence.<\/p>\n
Although we are not referring to a boxing bout, it is a common
\noutcome that one party ends up black and blue. There are no
\nprizes for guessing which group is on the receiving end.<\/p>\n
In an attempt to quash a street protest last Thursday,
\nsoldiers and police not only apprehended demonstrators on the
\nstreet, they also chased students onto the campus of a private
\neducational institution on Jl. Matraman Raya, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
On the campus young people were beaten arbitrarily: in the
\ncanteen or the musholla (small mosque). Blood was seen on the
\nfloor of the musholla.<\/p>\n
Some of the students were hospitalized. Others were placed in
\npolice custody and later fined in a summary court session.<\/p>\n
Members of the press were allegedly repeatedly beaten by
\nsecurity personnel despite displaying press cards. An officer
\ninvolved in one of the incidents, allegedly told a journalist
\nthat negative press was pushing the military into a corner.<\/p>\n
Journalist associations and human rights groups registered
\nstrongly worded protests to authorities, while a student
\ndelegation filed a complaint on Monday with the National
\nCommission on Human Rights.<\/p>\n
The incident -- particularly the beating of press members --
\nprovoked a swift response from Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen.
\nWiranto. He said stern action would be taken against the security
\npersonnel involved.<\/p>\n
Demands issued by military police at the scene did not deter
\nsome of the soldiers and riot police from their beatings. The
\nclash is doubly shocking because it occurred only four months
\nafter an incident in which students and members of the press were
\nstruck savagely.<\/p>\n
The latest episode is a reminder of pervasive disciplinary
\ndefects within the military. Rogue elements of the military have
\nbeen involved in bloody incidents elsewhere in the country.
\nHowever, the continual mishandling of street demonstrators in
\nJakarta, the seat of central government and the site of ABRI
\nHeadquarters, is ominous.<\/p>\n
The violent clash indicates that some soldiers' mentality is
\nnot in tune with democratic reforms sweeping the country. They
\nremain a product of the New Order regime, during which power was
\nwielded in a neocolonial style and people were treated as objects
\nof little worth.<\/p>\n
ABRI leaders have a tendency to defend the untoward activities
\nof their personnel. They often describe their soldiers as
\nordinary human beings, who are as easily provoked at the end of
\ntheir exhausting hours of duty.<\/p>\n
This exercise in comparison neglects a crucial requirement:
\nthat in all circumstances ABRI personnel have a duty to protect
\ncitizens. Individuals who refuse to respect their fellow human
\nbeings do not deserve to be described as ones.<\/p>\n
The lack of discipline within the military has become
\nintolerable. However, there is much foot dragging concerning
\nbringing officers involved in human rights abuse cases to
\njustice.<\/p>\n
In November, Wiranto vowed to take action against soldiers
\nresponsible for the beating of a journalist covering a student
\ndemonstration. We are still waiting for those results. As of last
\nweek, Wiranto has promised only to bring to justice security
\npersonnel involved in untoward acts toward members of the press.
\nStudents have little recourse.<\/p>\n
As the legitimacy of the government will continue to be
\nquestioned, student protest rallies will most likely continue. To
\nend the continuous cycle of student-troop clashes, the military
\nleadership should take concrete measures to boost discipline
\namong its soldiers.<\/p>\n
Examples should be made of those guilty of military brutality,
\nsuch as by introducing long jail terms, as a deterrent to any
\nsoldier who even considers harming an unarmed civilian.<\/p>\n
Military academies should introduce human rights subjects in
\ntheir curriculum. Soldiers should be trained to respect dissent
\nand be resilient in the face of public humiliation and criticism.
\nIf these issues are not addressed, everyone will be pessimistic
\nabout the security arrangements for the general election in June.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soldiers-unholy-war-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}