All forces have 'equal position' in TNI

JAKARTA (JP): Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Hanafie Asnan asserted that the Army, Navy and Air Force, as three entities in the Indonesian Military (TNI), require equal positions in carrying out their respective role in the defense of the country.

"The Army should not have a superiority complex," he said when asked about the Air Force's turn in the TNI leadership during a fast-breaking gathering at his residence on Monday.

Hanafie said the military's three entities have authority in accordance with their respective responsibilities.

"The Army is responsible for territorial affairs while the Navy and the Air Force have their own authority and responsibility in the sea and air, respectively," he said.

Hanafie appreciated President Abdurrahman Wahid's present policy to give equal treatment to the three forces, including an equal opportunity to hold the military's top position.

"Gus Dur in his capacity as TNI supreme commander should maintain the policy to ensure the three forces' equal position in the military organization," he said.

Asked on whether he was ready to be appointed some time in the future to replace Adm. Widodo A.S. the present commander of TNI, Hanafie said: "The three forces' chiefs of staff should always be ready to occupy the top position."

The president broke the tradition of the Army's dominance when he appointed Widodo as TNI commander replacing now retired Gen. Wiranto.

The Army had enjoyed dominance on a number of strategic positions in the military bureaucracy during the three decades of former president Soeharto's rule. (rms)