'TNI's growing confidence' becomes apparent: Analyst<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI) has regained its confidence and
\nis gradually assuming a greater role in politics after four years
\nof retreat, a political analyst warned on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Arief Budiman, a government critic who is now teaching at the
\nUniversity of Melbourne, said the growing confidence had become
\napparent due to the public's recognition of TNI's indispensable
\nrole in maintaining security and order, despite its blind
\nallegiance to the New Order regime's alleged involvement in
\nnumerous human rights abuses in the past.<\/p>\n
\"Since 1998 TNI has taken a low profile and stayed out of
\npolitics, but it has grown with confidence now that the civilian
\ngovernment remains weak and cannot dispense with the military's
\nrole,\" said Arief, a former student activist and lecturer at
\nSatya Wacana University in Salatiga, Central Java.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri seemed to be more comfortable
\ndealing directly with the TNI currently, than with Muslim parties
\nor groups, or even with the former ruling Golkar Party, Arief
\nadded.<\/p>\n
The global war against terrorism waged by the United States
\nhad also helped TNI to regain ground, according to Arief.<\/p>\n
\"The U.S. intention to resume military ties with Indonesia,
\nregardless of the motives, has at least contributed to TNI's
\nself-confidence building to revive its political role,\" he said,
\nas quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
In a discussion in Jakarta last Thursday, U.S. Ambassador to
\nIndonesia Ralph Boyce, in response to a question on whether the
\nU.S. was interested in resuming military ties with the TNI,
\nanswered with a robust, \"yes\".<\/p>\n
\"But I am hopeful, and I believe, that the ongoing reforms in
\nthe TNI, particularly the current ad hoc tribunal process, a test
\nof whether those who are accountable for the atrocities in East
\nTimor in September 1999 will be held accountable, has tremendous
\npromise for unlocking a more normal U.S. approach to its
\nrelations with the TNI,\" Boyce told a discussion on the war
\nagainst terrorism.<\/p>\n
The reform movement, which followed the fall of long-time
\nruler Soeharto in May 1998, turned the country's political system
\naround to democracy, at the expense of TNI's long-standing
\nsociopolitical role. The military seats in the House of
\nRepresentatives will be vacated after the 2004 elections,
\nfollowed by its seats in the People's Consultative Assembly after
\n2009.<\/p>\n
The TNI has claimed to be carrying out internal reform,
\nalthough it refused to withdraw its troops to barracks
\nimmediately.<\/p>\n
Arief said TNI displayed its past confidence when it appointed
\nMaj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin as its spokesman. Sjafrie was the
\nJakarta Military Commander during the bloody riots and rapes in
\nMay 1998 here.<\/p>\n
Not a single civilian, TNI member or police officer has ever
\nbeen tried for the May 1998 mass riots, which preceded Soeharto's
\ndownfall. Sjafrie was replaced by Maj. Gen. Djaja Suparman two
\nmonths after the riots and had his career on hold until his
\nappointment as TNI spokesman in February this year.<\/p>\n
Arief suggested that the general public remain vigilant of the
\npossibility of TNI making a comeback.<\/p>\n
\"Demands for the TNI to play its role are increasingly
\nbecoming louder ... but it cannot play its role (political or
\nsocial) as openly as it had done during the Soeharto era,\" Arief
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He also noted that the legal process, in connection with the
\nalleged involvement of TNI members in the murder of Papuan
\nproindependence leader Theys Hiyo Eluay last November, still
\nneeded to be closely monitored by the general public.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tnis-growing-confidence-becomes-apparent-analyst-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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