'TNI retains clout despite exit from MPR'<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI)'s surrender of its seats in the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has been applauded by many,
\nbut one analyst says the retreat is symbolic, noting that much of
\nthe TNI's political clout lies outside the MPR.<\/p>\n
Military analyst at the Center for Strategic and International
\nStudies (CSIS) Rizal Sukma said the TNI's decision to pull out
\nfrom the MPR by 2004, or five years ahead of schedule, was
\nencouraging but far from adequate.<\/p>\n
In fact, the TNI's exit was more \"by default rather than
\ndesign,\" he told participants at a media discussion on politics
\nheld by the CSIS recently.<\/p>\n
The TNI and the National Police occupy seats at the MPR
\nthrough interest group factions whose members are not elected.
\nThey also occupy complimentary seats at the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
Rizal said the TNI and the National Police had to pull out of
\nthe MPR, otherwise they would have stood in the way of the
\namendments to the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
The MPR, which until last week was the country's highest law-
\nmaking body, agreed to the fourth and final batch of amendments
\nand in the process, scrapped the interest group factions from the
\nlegislature.<\/p>\n
After the 2004 general elections, the new MPR will consist
\nonly of elected members from the House of Representatives and the
\nRegional Representatives Council.<\/p>\n
Rizal said the TNI's slowness in giving up its role in
\npolitics was also the result of civilian incompetence.<\/p>\n
As long as politicians continued to rely on the TNI to further
\ntheir own interests, the TNI would retain its clout, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Politicians shouldn't be pulling the military into politics
\nto garner support against competition from other parties,\" Rizal
\nlater told reporters.<\/p>\n
Analysts, and politicians as well, have long noted TNI's
\nstrategic role in politics. Last year the TNI played a crucial
\nrole in bringing down President Abdurrahman Wahid -- by simply
\nignoring his orders.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman fell out of favor with the TNI due to his tough
\nreform measures. He marked his first months in office by sacking
\nretired General Wiranto as Defense Minister in late 1999.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman reshuffled the military in an attempt to force
\nthem to bow to his government, all of which eventually cost him
\nits support.<\/p>\n
His successor, President Megawati Soekarnoputri, is seen as
\nrefraining from meddling in the TNI's internal affairs. Activists
\naccuse her of allowing the TNI to take over the state's security
\npolicies.<\/p>\n
\"It's still a long way off before we have a professional
\nmilitary,\" Rizal said.<\/p>\n
He identified four steps the government must take to build and
\nsecure a professional military.<\/p>\n
Firstly, the government must issue a national defense policy
\nwhich clearly defined the military's role and its needs, he said.<\/p>\n
Secondly, the government should place the TNI under the
\ndefense minister instead of directly under the president. \"Right
\nnow, the TNI chief's position is equal to that of a minister, but
\nthe president can't be bothered with issues like troop
\ndeployments.\"<\/p>\n
The third step was to increase the military's budget as it
\ncovered only 30 percent of the TNI's costs -- a condition that
\nlended the military some financial independence from the state,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Fourthly, the government should draw up \"rules of engagement\"
\nto provide soldiers with rules of professional conduct.<\/p>",
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