'TNI may still guard vital places'<\/p>\n
Yuni Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung<\/p>\n
Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
\nclarified his statement over the military's plan to quit
\nproviding protection at several vital installations, saying
\nsoldiers may still do the task in the event of emergency.<\/p>\n
\"Should security concerns increase, (the companies) may ask
\nthe police for assistance. If (the security concerns) worsen, TNI
\nmight be asked for help,\" he told reporters here on Friday.<\/p>\n
Endriartono had earlier said the withdrawal of troops was in
\nline with the Law No. 3\/2002 on state defense which stipulates
\nthat security is not part of the military's duties.<\/p>\n
In response to Endriartono's proposal, Coordinating Minister
\nfor Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
\nexpressed his support for the police to take over the security
\njobs from the TNI.<\/p>\n
National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar also said the police
\nforce was ready for the transfer of duty.<\/p>\n
To date, there are some 2,100 military soldiers deployed at
\nvital objects, or areas of great economic value, across the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Among the 16 vital installations currently guarded by the
\nmilitary are PT Freeport McMoran's gold and copper mine in Papua,
\nPT Caltex oil and gas in Dumai, PT ExxonMobil in Aceh, all of
\nwhich are managed\/operated by private U.S. companies.<\/p>\n
The presence of TNI soldiers at ExxonMobil and the state gas
\nand oil firm PT Arun NGL Co. would be maintained due to the
\nmartial law status in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Freeport has said that it paid TNI about US$5.6 million last
\nyear to protect its assets in Papua.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Endriartono said the TNI would no longer protect
\nthe vital objects due to improving security conditions in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
\"In the past, there were continuing threats that forced TNI to
\nguard the installations,\" he told reporters, adding the soldiers
\nwere conducting a state duty by guarding those sites.<\/p>\n
Now that security has improved, the responsibility to provide
\nsecurity has returned to the management of the companies,
\nEndriartono said.<\/p>\n
\"It's the company's obligation to protect itself. Don't build
\na company if you have no capability to guard the plant,\" he
\nexplained to the managers of the firms.<\/p>\n
Endriartono said the military would focus on its professional
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
Police broke away from the TNI in 2000, and were supposed to
\nbe put in charge of internal security affairs.<\/p>\n
There are around 125,000 police personnel, compared to TNI's
\n250,000.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tni-may-still-guard-vital-places-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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