Support grows for TNI repositioning<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari and Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A public hearing on the Indonesian Military (TNI) bill on Tuesday
\nfound support for placing the armed forces under the defense
\nministry for the sake of military professionalism.<\/p>\n
Those participating in the hearing said placing the TNI under
\nthe defense ministry would avoid conflicts and confusion in
\ncreating policies dealing with national defense.<\/p>\n
The deputy chairman of the House of Representatives' defense
\ncommission, Effendy Choirie, said the bill would not contribute
\nto military reform unless it placed the TNI under the control of
\nthe defense ministry.<\/p>\n
\"Without that, there will be nothing new. Therefore, we have
\nto fight for it. If the proposal is approved, it could be
\nimplemented gradually,\" he said during the hearing with defense
\nand military analysts.<\/p>\n
Attending the hearing were ProPatria study center director T.
\nHari Prihatono, Local Government Studies researcher Jaleswari
\nPramodhawardani, Institute for Indonesia Defense and Strategic
\nStudies director Rizal Darmaputra, Institute for Law Enforcement
\nand Indonesia National Study director Ahmad Rivai and Jati Diri
\nBangsa Foundation chairman Lt. Gen. (ret) Kiki Syahnakri.<\/p>\n
The TNI currently falls under the supervision of the
\npresident, who is also its supreme commander. The position of TNI
\nchief is similar to that of a Cabinet minister.<\/p>\n
Rizal said overlaps in policy-making between TNI headquarters
\nand the Ministry of Defense were evident in the procurement of
\nRussian-made Sukhoi jets last year.<\/p>\n
Based on the defense law, the procurement should have been
\nhandled by the defense ministry, he said.<\/p>\n
Officials at the ministry, however, told the House Commission
\nI for defense they were kept in the dark about the procurement.
\nInstead, the TNI chief cooperated with the Ministry of Industry
\nand Trade to purchase the warplanes through a countertrade deal.<\/p>\n
\"Such problems will reoccur in the future if the TNI remains
\non par with the Ministry of Defense,\" Rizal said.<\/p>\n
Kiki, a former deputy chief of the Army, supported the idea of
\nputting the TNI under the defense ministry but failed to
\nelaborate.<\/p>\n
\"I agree with it. Ideally, the TNI would fall under the
\ncontrol of the defense ministry,\" he said.<\/p>\n
During the hearing, legislators were split over an article in
\nthe bill that would maintain the TNI's territorial role.<\/p>\n
Some legislators suggested that the military's presence at the
\ndistrict, regency and provincial levels should be maintained
\ngiven the imminent threats of terrorism and separatism.<\/p>\n
But Pramodhawardani called for a regulation to restrict troop
\ndeployments in order to curb the power of military authorities.<\/p>\n
Any decisions on the use of military force, she said, should
\ninvolve the House, the president and the defense minister.<\/p>\n
She also suggested that the House delay the deliberation of
\nthe bill due to numerous contentious issues that would be
\ndifficult to resolve in the final month of the House's term. The
\nHouse expects to finish the deliberations in one month.<\/p>\n
Separately, interim coordinating minister for political and
\nsecurity affairs Hari Sabarno suggested that the House approve
\nthe bill before its term expires on Oct. 1, otherwise the new
\nlawmakers would have to begin the process over from the
\nbeginning.<\/p>\n
\"The present government and House are responsible for
\nfinalizing any bills debated during their tenure. If they fail to
\nendorse the drafts, the next government will have to start the
\nwhole process over and it will take time,\" Hari said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/support-grows-for-tni-repositioning-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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