TNI joint chiefs of staff needs DPR approval<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Representatives of most factions at the People's
\nConsultative Assembly have agreed on the formation of a joint
\nchiefs of staff of the Indonesia Military (TNI).<\/p>\n
An Assembly ad hoc committee meeting charged with formulating
\na decree on TNI\/Police also proposed that the head of the chief
\nof staffs be approved by the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
"The head of the TNI joint chief of staff should be installed
\nby the President with the House's approval," Mutammimul Ula, who
\nchaired the ad hoc committee, said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Mutammimul said the stipulation of House approval was aimed at
\npreventing fears that the president could use the military for
\nhis or her own political interests.<\/p>\n
He claimed that seven factions, including the TNI\/Police
\nfaction, out of the Assembly's 10, agreed with the need for the
\nHouse's approval for the installment of the head of the TNI chief
\nof staff.<\/p>\n
"We hope the decree can be endorsed in the general session of
\nthe Assembly in August," he said.<\/p>\n
During the meeting there was also discussion that the joint
\nchief of staff be selected on a rotational basis from one of the
\nthree forces -- the Navy, the Army and the Air Force.<\/p>\n
The current law stipulates that the TNI chief or commander is
\nappointed by the president without House approval.<\/p>\n
The current TNI chief is Adm. Widodo A.S.<\/p>\n
Seats<\/p>\n
On the question of TNI's presence in the Assembly, Mutammimul
\nsaid almost all factions during the meeting agreed that the TNI
\nshould still be given seats, at least for five years after the
\n2004 general elections.<\/p>\n
He said the TNI\/Police faction had asked for seats since they
\nhad relinquished their right to vote during the general
\nelections.<\/p>\n
However some factions suggested that the police force be
\nallowed to vote in elections, but, like civil servants, officers
\nshould resign if they wanted to be nominated in the election.<\/p>\n
"There is the thinking that the police should be considered
\nseparate from civilians," Mutammimul from the Reform faction
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said others proposal discussed included the police force
\nbeing placed under the home affair's ministry and the TNI under
\nthe coordination of the defense ministry.<\/p>\n
Currently both are under the defense ministry.<\/p>\n
TNI\/Police faction, however, proposed the police be placed
\ndirectly under the president and function as a non-ministerial
\ninstitution.<\/p>\n
Mutammimul also revealed that another faction had suggested
\nthat the police be independent and be placed under a board of
\ncommissioners, similar to the Japanese model.<\/p>\n
Mutammimul said that majority of the factions agreed that the
\npolice chief could be installed by the president without House
\napproval.<\/p>\n
"About the police chief, there are no worries that he or she
\nwill be used by the president for power or interest," he said.<\/p>\n
On the role of the TNI in maintaining domestic security, some
\nfactions suggested that TNI officers be used only in special
\nsituations, such as riots, after a request from police. The
\npolice would have the primary responsibility for maintaining
\norder.<\/p>\n
Most factions, including TNI\/Police, agreed that military
\nforces should only be used in domestic situations having been
\ninstructed to by the government or local administration. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tni-joint-chiefs-of-staff-needs-dpr-approval-1447893297",
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