Time for TNI to consolidate, focus on its defense role<\/p>\n
Imanuddin Razak, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
There will be no extraordinary activities to mark this year's
\ncelebration of the 58th anniversary of the Indonesian Military
\n(TNI) on Sunday. The anniversary celebration will be held at the
\nNaval base in Surabaya, East Java, and will be the first time it
\nis held outside Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Another difference from previous years is the inclusion of an
\naerobatic show featuring the recently delivered Russian Sukhoi 27
\nand Sukhoi 30 jet fighters, and MI-35 assault helicopters.<\/p>\n
The new equipment reinforces the public's expectations of a
\nprofessional military. Although the TNI still reflects concerns
\nthat it should play a domestic defensive role, the police, in
\naccordance with its formal separation from the TNI in 2001 and as
\nstipulated in the law on the police, must be given a chance to
\nhandle domestic security.<\/p>\n
The purchase of the Russian warplanes was made following the
\nUnited States' military embargo on the country following the 1999
\npost-referendum violence in East Timor, and the rejection by the
\nU.S. government to lift the embargo following last year's lethal
\nambush against American citizens in Timika, Papua province, in
\nwhich TNI members were allegedly involved.<\/p>\n
The presence of the Sukhoi jet fighters -- which are equipped
\nwith guided missiles and free-flight rockets to attack both land
\nand sea targets, and are capable of engaging the enemy
\nindependently or in a fleet in any weather -- will at least be a
\nhighlight of the anniversary celebration. It has been 6 years
\nsince the TNI last purchased new, advanced-technology equipment.<\/p>\n
The last purchase of such jet fighters was in 1989, when the
\nTNI bought 12 American-made F-16s, while the last purchase of
\nNaval warships was in 1994, when the country bought 39 warships
\nmade in former East Germany.<\/p>\n
The Army bought British-made Scorpion tanks in early 1995 and
\nBritish-made armored vehicles in early 1997, ahead of the general
\nelections.<\/p>\n
The number of F-16 jet fighters does not meet the minimum
\ncriteria for an Air Force squadron of 12 aircraft, as the Air
\nForce only has three flight-worthy planes, as the others are
\neither grounded or damaged. Meanwhile, most of the ex-East German
\nwarships are not seaworthy due to their age and the lack of spare
\nparts, which are now obsolete.<\/p>\n
Equipment aside, TNI marks this year with the end of its
\nactive political role, namely in the legislature -- the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR) and the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR). This is because at next year's general elections, the TNI
\nwill not be granted \"free\" seats at either the House or the
\nAssembly, because of the new law on general elections.<\/p>\n
Under this new law, all members of the two legislative bodies
\nwill be elected through two channels -- the election of members
\nof the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) at the provincial
\nlevel, who will form part of the MPR, and the national level
\nelections that will determine the House's composition, as well as
\nthe remaining seats at the Assembly.<\/p>\n
People still recall the TNI's historic decision during the MPR
\nAnnual Session in August, when the military headquarters
\nannounced its readiness to withdraw from the House and the
\nAssembly simultaneously in 2004, instead of the initially planned
\ngradual withdrawal from both legislative bodies by 2009.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, however, the TNI will still play a role in
\nactive politics in the executive branch of government, at least
\nthrough their retired officers, who still fill government posts
\nnationwide as governors, regents and mayors.<\/p>\n
The status of the retired officers is unique, as in the eyes
\nof TNI Headquarters, they no longer belong to the Armed Forces
\nand are considered civilians. But, as many generals have said
\nthroughout the course of world history, old soldiers never die,
\nonly fade, and the retired, now civilian officers apparently
\nstill have a personal relationship with the military headquarters
\nthat took care of them during their active service.<\/p>\n
In spite of the TNI's political precedent -- elaborated in the
\ndwi fungsi (dual function) doctrine -- the fact that its active
\ninvolvement in politics has been reduced by at least half with
\nits exit from the legislature, the TNI's 58th anniversary this
\nyear should be used as an occasion for introspection and focusing
\non its defense role.<\/p>\n
The decision by the TNI Headquarters to procure a complete
\nsquadron of Sukhois, and the Navy's decision to purchase two
\nsubmarines from South Korea to upgrade its fleet, should be used
\nas by the TNI to upgrade the skills of its troops to master the
\nsophisticated warplanes and submarines.<\/p>\n
With its new \"toys\", the TNI should also gradually quit its
\nactive involvement in politics, especially in the executive
\nbranch, and focus on upgrading its defense capability to deter
\nforeign military threats.<\/p>\n
Military sources said foreign aircraft have frequently
\ntrespassed Indonesia's aerial territory, especially in the east,
\nand the country had lacked warplanes able to pursue and escort
\nthem into international air space. They did not mention cases of
\nforeign warships trespassing into Indonesia's maritime territory.<\/p>\n
One good example of the Air Force protecting the country's air
\nspace occurred earlier this year on July 3, when two of
\nIndonesia's F-16 Fighting Falcons intercepted the U.S. Navy's F-
\n18 Hornets above Bawean island over the Java Sea.<\/p>\n
With this year's anniversary we expect more success stories
\nfrom the TNI in the safeguarding of the sovereignty of the
\ncountry's territorial integrity.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/time-for-tni-to-consolidate-focus-on-its-defense-role-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}