U.S. warning<\/p>\n
In The Jakarta Post of Jan. 16, 2000 (front page) I read,
\n"U.S. Ambassador R. Holbrooke strongly warned the Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) not to try to foil the works of the government
\nsanctioned commission of inquiry into human rights violations
\n(KPP HAM) in East Timor".<\/p>\n
What is the reason for saying this? The KPP HAM has asked
\ngenerals and ministers to come, they all comply and answer the
\nquestions put forward, except Habibie, who is 100 percent
\ncivilian. The KPP HAM is not a court, it is just a commission.
\nThe military never tried to foil the efforts of the KPP HAM to
\nobtain the true facts, because by obtaining the true facts, the
\nrole of the international bodies will come to the surface. There
\nis no reason whatever to foil the attempts, because that is good
\nfor Indonesia.<\/p>\n
He also said that the U.S. is strongly opposed to any military
\ncoup attempt. I begin to ask myself whether the honorable
\nHolbrooke knows the TNI, and if he does know, then he will not
\nissue this warning.<\/p>\n
Since its birth, the TNI has stayed loyal to the central
\ngovernment. In 1948, the Communist Party started a rebellion, the
\nTNI remained loyal. In the mid-1950s the PRRI and the PERMESTA
\nrebelled against the central government. The TNI stayed loyal to
\nthe central government, despite help to the rebels from the U.S.
\nI am still wondering why the U.S. helped rebels in a foreign
\ncountry by sending planes and weapons.<\/p>\n
In this reform era, the TNI is part and parcel of the reform
\nmovement now going on in Indonesia and the slogan is "what is
\ngood for the people (I mean Indonesian people not foreign people)
\nis good for the TNI". This is proof of the deep dedication of the
\nTNI to the reform era.<\/p>\n
Where does the honorable Holbrooke get this information of the
\nmilitary planning a coup, or is he giving moral support to those
\npeople or perhaps the politicians who hate the TNI for their
\nefficiency and professionalism and take away their chance to
\nrule? Holbrooke should study the mentality of the TNI as a part
\nof the reform movement, which is to slowly retreat from the
\npolitical arena, so that politicians can play the active role
\nthey have been waiting for so long.<\/p>\n
The TNI said that if other people can do it, then let them do
\nit. The TNI agreed in principle to end their dual role in about
\nsix years time, which is also a product of the meeting between
\ntop politicians like Abdurrahman Wahid, Megawati Soekarnoputri,
\nAmien Rais and the sultan of Yogyakarta. These politicians agreed
\nthat the dual role of the TNI should not perish but fade away
\nlike heroes. The dual function has a strong legal basis, so its
\nabolition should be along legal lines and not by demonstrations.<\/p>\n
Mr. Holbrooke, perhaps you mean well, and I am sure you do.
\nBut the way you express it, it is not 100 percent acceptable.
\nThere is a French proverb that says It is the tone that decides
\nthe music.<\/p>\n
SOEGIH ARTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-warning-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }