Abolishment of more TNI bodies urged

Abolishment of more TNI bodies urged

JAKARTA (JP): Following the decision to abolish the
Coordinating Agency to Support the Strengthening of National
Stability (Bakorstanas), legislators and observers urged other
military-controlled monitoring bodies to also be dissolved.

House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung hailed on
Thursday the termination of the agency and screening procedures
known as litsus, but said the government should go one step
further by excising Posko Kewaspadaan (alert centers).

"The alert centers have the same spirit as Bakorstanas, which
is to monitor people's activities," Akbar said.

He said all extra constitutional bodies, such as Bakorstanas,
the litsus institutions and alert centers be completely
discarded.

According to Akbar, existing intelligence bodies such as the
State Intelligence Coordinating Board (Bakin) and the military's
Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) were sufficient.

Alert centers were established in January 1997 under the
government of former president Soeharto to prevent possible
riots.

The centers were set up in almost every military district.

The government announced on Wednesday the liquidation of
Bakorstanas, which in past years was chaired by the Indonesian
Military (TNI) chief.

It became infamous as part of the military's vehicle to
oppress outspoken political activists.

The litsus institution is a government body which screens
candidates for government departments.

The screenings usually attempted to trace whether individuals
were in any way connected to the banned Indonesian Communist
Party.

Legislator Permadi of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) warned that while the institution might
now be abolished, its function could easily be conducted by other
military bodies.

"The functions can easily be taken over by Bakin and BAIS,"
Permadi said.

Similarly, military observer J. Kristiadi of the Centre for
Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) warned that the public
should remain wary of these pseudo-military "screening" bodies.

He remarked that it was not impossible for the government to
shift this role or establish new bodies under a different guise.

"Gus Dur might create other bodies to replace the dissolved
ones but with different names," Kristiadi said, referring to the
President by his popular name.

Kristiadi urged the government to accept the differing views
prevailing in society instead of fearing them like past regimes
did.

"Political distinctions must be appreciated and not repressed,
and opposition should also be given space to work," he said on
the sidelines of a discussion here.

Kristiadi pointed out that Bakorstanas was established purely
for Soeharto's own political interests and therefore it should
have been dissolved as soon as the 32-year ruler resigned two
years ago along with other military-controlled bodies which could
repress political plurality.

People's Consultative Assembly Deputy Speaker Hari Sabarno
also welcomed the repeal of Bakorstanas in the current political
climate.

He said the Ministry of Defense's two intelligence agencies
were sufficient given that currently there were no imminent
enemies threatening the country.

However, Hari stressed that if potential threats arose, the
government should consider reestablishing them again.

"Although things are normal now, we have to stay alert but
right now we don't need an agency like Bakorstanas," Hari of the
Assembly's TNI and National Police faction said.(dja/jun/emf)