TNI's illegal businesses back in spotlight<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Police and military backing of illegal businesses has again
\ndrawn public attention following the Binjai incident, with
\nanalysts warning of rivalry between the two forces.<\/p>\n
Around 1.5 tons of marijuana went missing from a police
\nstation in the North Sumatra town of Binjai, after soldiers
\nstormed in during a shoot-out with police. The clash resulted in
\nthe death of two civilians, five police officers and one soldier.<\/p>\n
\"It's a turf war out there,\" said Danang Widoyoko of the
\nIndonesian Corruption Watch (ICW).<\/p>\n
What sparked Sunday's clash that lasted until Monday morning
\nwas the arrest of a drug trafficker whom the police refused to
\nrelease despite the request from a soldier.<\/p>\n
Danang said the incident showed how police and soldiers
\nsquabble over control of the lucrative drug trade.<\/p>\n
Many illegal businesses here are able to thrive due to what
\nhas generally been attributed to protection money they pay to
\nmembers of the National Police or the Indonesian Military (TNI).<\/p>\n
The practice is so rampant that it is seen as the counterpart
\nto civil servants' notorious corruption habits. In Jakarta alone
\nmany of the nightclubs, illegal gambling dens, and brothels enjoy
\nthe protection of policemen or military officers.<\/p>\n
The capital's prospering gambling business reportedly has
\npolice backing, while the Army reportedly has control over the
\nbrothels, many of which are located in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The Navy is allegedly left to earn protection money from
\nnightclubs that serve the lower class market, which nonetheless
\nprovide profitable returns.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, security forces may be backing the illegal logging
\nbusinesses in Sumatra and Kalimantan, thus contributing to the
\nloss of precious forest areas.<\/p>\n
According to Danang, the turf war over illegal businesses
\nbetween the police and soldiers may worsen since the police are
\nno longer under the auspices of the TNI.<\/p>\n
Nur Atar Achmad of Police Watch said the police force's
\nsegregation from the TNI could had led to envy among soldiers.<\/p>\n
According to him, police members are often seen as better paid
\nthan their peers in the military.<\/p>\n
This, he said, might lead to increased clashes between police
\nand soldiers including over the control of illegal businesses.<\/p>\n
Both the police and the TNI have frequently denied charges
\nthat they condone the protection of illegal business. But none
\nhave ruled out the possibility of several of their members being
\ninvolved in it.<\/p>\n
Vice President Hamzah Haz called on security forces on Tuesday
\nto stop the protection of illegal businesses.<\/p>\n
But putting an end to it would be difficult, analysts have
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The police and TNI have been relying on their businesses, some
\nof which may be illegal, to make up for the state budget
\nshortfall.<\/p>\n
At 70 percent for the TNI this year, the budget shortfall is
\nforcing the military to be financially independent of the state.<\/p>\n
ICW is working on a report highlighting TNI's sprawling
\nbusiness interests, and Danang said the report might be released
\nsometime this month.<\/p>\n
He added that raising the budget for the police or military
\nwas not enough to cut them both from their illegal businesses.<\/p>\n
\"Why should soldiers get more when teachers and civil servants
\nare paid low wages too,\" he said. \"It would be discriminatory.\"<\/p>\n
He suggested that TNI businesses be nationalized and the
\nrevenue used to improve the welfare of low income soldiers.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tnis-illegal-businesses-back-in-spotlight-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}