TNI to downgrade territorial affairs post<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In a move designed to go some way toward relinquishing its
\nsocial and political roles, the Indonesian Military (TNI) will
\ndowngrade its territorial affairs post, which is currently
\ndirectly subordinate to the TNI chief, into an assistant's post
\nunder the chief of general affairs.<\/p>\n
The downgrading will be carried out following the appointment
\nof the TNI Chief of Territorial Affairs Lt. Gen. Agus Widjojo as
\ndeputy speaker of the People Consultative Assembly (MPR) for the
\nTNI\/National Police faction, replacing Lt. Gen. Hari Sabarno, now
\nminister of home affairs.<\/p>\n
\"There will be no official who can hold two posts at the same
\ntime. As Mas Agus has been assigned to the Assembly, we are
\ncurrently reorganizing our institution. That's the best way for
\nthe TNI,\" TNI chief Adm. Widodo AS said on Monday after attending
\nAgus's inauguration as Assembly deputy speaker at the Assembly
\nbuilding.<\/p>\n
Asked when the downgrade would be carried out, Widodo said,
\n\"the process will take time and there will also be several other
\nsteps involved.<\/p>\n
The planned downgrade of the territorial affairs post would
\nserve as a step forward for the TNI in relinquishing its social
\nand political functions, and moving toward a greater focus on
\ndefense.<\/p>\n
The TNI's territorial affairs post was created when the TNI
\nundertook internal reforms in 1998, when the social and political
\naffairs post was eliminated.<\/p>\n
The post's incumbent, Coordinating Minister for Political and
\nSecurity Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, was the first chief of
\nterritorial affairs before being replaced by Agus in 1999.<\/p>\n
The TNI's social and political roles, and later its
\nterritorial roles, have been criticized by many as having
\nhampered the development of democracy because they allow the
\nmilitary to become deeply involved in civilian affairs.<\/p>\n
Agus himself floated the idea of handing over the TNI's
\nterritorial functions to the National Police and provincial
\nadministrations.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Agus suggested that the transfer of such
\nterritorial functions should be conducted gradually, starting
\nfrom the lowest level of the TNI territorial structure at the
\ndistrict and regency levels.<\/p>\n
Agus said on Monday that the territorial affairs post would be
\ndowngraded to an assistant's post under the TNI chief of general
\naffairs.<\/p>\n
\"This territorial role, which constitutes one of our defense
\nroles, used to be subordinate to the general affairs' post. So
\nthere will be no problem with the implementation of the
\nterritorial role should my post be eliminated,\" Agus, a 1970
\ngraduate of the Armed Forces Academy, said.<\/p>\n
He declined, however, to reveal the time frame set by the TNI
\nfor the implementation of the plan, saying that \"the TNI
\nheadquarters in Cilangkap (East Jakarta) is working on it.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tni-to-downgrade-territorial-affairs-post-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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