TNI needs to follow the times<\/p>\n
The reputation of the Indonesian Military (TNI) has been
\ntarnished by accusations of human rights violations in several
\ntroubled areas and during mass demonstrations in the capital.
\nPart of the accusations are true and part exaggerated by the
\nefforts of politicians to weaken TNI and prevent it from making a
\npolitical comeback. We all know how big the role of TNI was
\nduring the New Order and how deep the politicians hatred of TNI
\nwas.<\/p>\n
In spite of frequent and repeated statements from the TNI
\nleadership that TNI, as part of the reform movement, has made a
\n180-degree turnaround and has expressed its sincere desire to
\nleave the political arena and concentrate on becoming a
\nprofessional institution, political suspicion remains and is
\ndifficult to erase.<\/p>\n
However, people forget that now the rivalry among the
\npoliticians themselves is a bigger danger than TNI, and if the
\npolitical parties continue fighting among themselves for personal
\ngain the whole nation will suffer, including TNI. Will TNI stand
\nthere as a passive spectator, doing nothing and letting the unity
\nof Indonesia fall into shambles, not as a result of foreign
\nenemies but the country's own leaders? I am afraid to give an
\nanswer to that question. The bickering among the political
\nleaders is becoming worse, and they do not stop at bickering
\nalone, but spend money to create trouble and instigate fights
\namong people who previously lived in peace and harmony with each
\nother. How many people have died because of this?<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman Wahid announced the troublemakers were
\ncertain members of the House of Representatives and People's
\nConsultative Assembly. This allegation is supported by the
\nminister of defense, the prominent politician Matori Abdul Djalil
\nand a very learned man by the name of Prof. Dr. Thamrin Amal
\nTamagoa.<\/p>\n
But the attorney general is quite cautious in this case,
\nsaying he asked the President's permission to investigate the
\nlegislators based on accusations of corruption, not of political
\ncrimes.<\/p>\n
To prevent TNI's comeback to the political scene is easy. The
\npolitical parties should stop fighting each other and concentrate
\non the well-being of the nation. The civilians must conduct some
\nserious introspection, and, according to TNI territorial chief
\nGen. Agus Wijaya, TNI should no longer rely on its historic
\nachievements alone, but should take into consideration the
\nchanging times and the reform movement of which TNI is part.<\/p>\n
SOEGIH ARTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tni-needs-to-follow-the-times-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }