TNI back to square one<\/p>\n
Public radio in the early 1960s aired patriotic songs every one
\nhour or so. The lyrics of one song were \"Liberate Irian, Liberate
\nIrian\" (Seize Irian, Seize Irian). It was around the time when
\nthe country had yet to win Irian Jaya -- now Papua -- back from
\nthe Dutch colonial government.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, the song is still relevant today to some
\nPapuans, especially those who aspire to secede from Indonesia.
\nResentment against Jakarta has not waned 40 years after Irian
\nJaya was liberated in 1963, mainly because of Jakarta's
\nmishandling of this resource-rich-province.<\/p>\n
Last week the government decided to send more troops to Papua,
\nnot to liberate it but to boost military strength there,
\naccording to Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Endriartono
\nSutarto.<\/p>\n
Only two weeks ago, a communal conflict broke out in Timika
\nkilling five people and injuring a dozen others. It was partly
\ntriggered by the government's recent, controversial decision to
\ndivide the huge province into three provinces. Critics say that
\nthe government's decision -- to divide the province into West
\nIrian Jaya, Central Irian Jaya and Papua -- was made to weaken
\nthe separatist movement in the easternmost province.
\nNevertheless, the decision has been temporarily suspended due to
\nthe conflict.<\/p>\n
The addition of four battalions to the existing three
\nbattalions in the province looks rational, especially if one
\nconsiders the enormous size of the province. But it is a
\ndisturbing image if seen as an attempt by the military to
\npreserve its infamous territorial command structure.<\/p>\n
For 30 years, under the rule of autocrat Soeharto, the
\nstructure had been an instrument to ensure the military's
\npolitical supremacy, as well as the root of numerous human rights
\nabuses. This was the reason why the reputation of the military
\nreached its zenith right after Soeharto's downfall.<\/p>\n
The people's suspicion toward TNI today stems from this
\nperiod. Bad elements in this otherwise very important institution
\nhave been suspected to have engineered communal clashes in the
\nformer province of East Timor, Maluku province and the town of
\nPoso, Central Sulawesi in post-Soeharto years. Too bad our legal
\nsystem has significantly failed to bring these cases to light.<\/p>\n
Past experience shows that sending troops to conflict areas --
\ndespite the otherwise noble intention of bringing peace -- only
\ncreates more problems. Military solutions to political problems
\nare most likely to flop.<\/p>\n
The military operation in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) in
\nthe 1990s failed to subdue the decades-old struggle of Gerakan
\nAceh Merdeka (Free Aceh Movement). Ironically, the post-Soeharto
\ngovernment under President Megawati Soekarnoputri -- breaking
\ntheir past promise, to pursue peaceful means -- launched another
\noperation, starting on May 19 this year.<\/p>\n
The military, who promised to end the current war in NAD in
\nsix months, has to eat its own words. It has now hinted that the
\nconflict -- that has brought so much misery to the Acehnese --
\nmight extend to next year. In the meantime, at least 319
\ncivilians have been killed and more than 100 others injured,
\naccording to the police.<\/p>\n
In Papua, the government has been waging sporadic battles
\nagainst the separatist movement since the 1960s without success.<\/p>\n
What needs to be done by the government, the people and the
\nmilitary in both these troubled provinces is to embrace the local
\npeople in an honest and genuine manner, to talk to them from the
\nheart, to listen to their grievances patiently and to find ways
\nto fulfill their demands. Bullets do not pay and they will never
\nwin the hearts of the people.<\/p>\n
The first step in this direction is the willingness of hard-
\nliners within the TNI to abandon their old way of doing things.
\nThis entails a redefinition of responses to numerous challenges
\nfacing TNI. Only then will the TNI recoup its glorious reputation
\nin its journey to become a professional institution. Otherwise,
\nGod forbid, will we witness the days where Papuans and Acehnese
\nsee their struggle as a war to free themselves from Indonesian
\ncolonizers?<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tni-back-to-square-one-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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