TNI to study territorial function<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief off Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto
\nasserted on Thursday the necessity to review the Indonesian
\nMilitary's (TNI) territorial function, including the much
\ncriticized military commands, because of past misuse.<\/p>\n
Speaking to military commanders and retired Army generals
\nhere, Tyasno said as a consequence, TNI would revamp its
\nstructure and reduce the number of military commands to a
\nminimum.<\/p>\n
\"The number of military commands is likely to be reduced and
\ntheir structure also will be evaluated and adjusted in accordance
\nwith the present situation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The archipelagic country has 16 regional military commands,
\nall under the Army.<\/p>\n
Tyasno did not reveal when the reorganization would take
\neffect, saying it was up to the government and the House of
\nRepresentatives to enact a legal basis for the plan.<\/p>\n
If the proposal goes as expected, certain provinces like
\nJakarta and Central Java will see the military presence reduced
\nin some military districts, military subdistricts and among
\ntroops stationed in villages, according to Tyasno.<\/p>\n
\"But, in the troubled provinces of Aceh, Riau, Papua and other
\nremote areas, a maximum presence of troops is needed for security
\nreasons,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the presence of military commands and subordinate
\nstructures in the provinces had been subject to criticism because
\nin the past they also carried out political missions.<\/p>\n
\"The military has been criticized and opposed for taking a
\nsecurity approach instead of a social welfare approach in
\nhandling problems and for siding with the government rather than
\ngiving protection to the people.<\/p>\n
\"You will see our good will pay dividends for all misdeeds we
\ncommitted in the past. We are returning to our original mission
\nof winning the people's hearts.\"<\/p>\n
Among the attendees of the meeting were former vice president
\nGen. (ret) Try Sutrisno, former TNI chief\/minister of defense
\nGen. (ret) Edi Sudrajat, former Army's Strategic Reserve Command
\n(Kostrad) chief Lt. Gen. Tarub, and TNI's delegate to the House
\nof Representatives.<\/p>\n
Tyasno conceded that past mistakes had sparked calls for TNI
\nto reform its territorial mission.<\/p>\n
He said TNI's territorial job would remain to create a safe
\nfeeling among people as well as to maintain national unity.<\/p>\n
The new approach to the territorial mission can be conducted
\nconsistently with the phasing-out of the military's political
\nfunction.<\/p>\n
\"TNI will be able to focus on its sole duty of handling
\ndisturbances because it will no longer be involved in practical
\npolitics,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He insisted that the present implementation of the territorial
\nfunction was ineffective and far from optimum because of the
\ndeployment of unprofessional soldiers in the field and the lack
\nof coordination between the government and the military.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, there is no legal umbrella for the implementation of
\nmilitary doctrine,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Tyasno also said the Army was making internal and external
\nreform to improve professionalism among its soldiers and improve
\nrelations between the military and the people.<\/p>\n
As part of its internal improvement, the Army will emphasize
\ndiscipline among its members and upgrade their skills, he said.<\/p>\n
\"All soldiers must be well prepared for deployment whenever
\nand wherever their commandant orders,\" he said, adding that
\nsoldiers found guilty of violating the military code of ethics or
\nthe civil law would be punished.<\/p>\n
He promised the Army would continue promoting a human approach
\nand be more sympathetic to the people in carrying out its
\nterritorial mission. (rms\/emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tni-to-study-territorial-function-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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