Army developing new military commands

JAKARTA (JP): Eight new regional military commands will be established, adding to the existing nine commands, to maintain the country's defense, security and unity, Indonesian Defense Force (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto said on Friday.

The number of the regional military commands being developed in gradual stages was dependent upon the "strategic environment situation, including national, global and regional surroundings... particularly the national environment," the four-star general said after attending a ceremony marking the first anniversary of President B.J. Habibie's administration.

The possibility that additional military commands across the country would instill fear in local communities was not a subject covered in Wiranto's announcement.

He said the establishment of new military commands would help servicemen "who have been united with local people" to be able to anticipate any possible threats.

Establishment of the new commands would take place in phases, as the policy required detailed preparation of human resources, tools and other facilities.

"We started the first one at the Pattimura Regional Military Command (because) by coincidence the people in Maluku really wanted a (separate) military command. We established it on (May) 15," he said.

According to a decree issued by Wiranto dated May 7, 1999, the eight new commands will be set up in several areas currently supervised by existing commands. The majority of new commands will be established in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

The decree, a copy which was made available to The Jakarta Post on Thursday, revealed that all 17 commands would be divided into two types.

Those under type A commands would be led by a two-star general, while type B commands would be supervised by a one-star general.

Type A commands will comprise the 3rd/Imam Bonjol Regional Command (supervising West Sumatra, Riau and Jambi), the 4th/Sriwijaya Regional Command (South Sumatra, Lampung and Bengkulu), the 5th/Jaya Regional Command (Jakarta, Bekasi, Tangerang and Depok), the 6th/Siliwangi Regional Command (West Java), the 7th/Diponegoro Regional Command (Central Java and Yogyakarta) and the 8th/Brawijaya Regional Command (East Java).

Type B commands will comprise the 1st/Iskandar Muda Regional Command (Aceh), the 2nd/Bukit Barisan Regional Command (North Sumatra), the 9th/Tanjungpura Regional Command (West Kalimantan), the 10th/Lambung Mangkurat (Central and South Kalimantan), the 11th/Mulawarman Regional Command (East Kalimantan), the 12th/Sam Ratulangi (North and Central Sulawesi), the 13th/Hasanudin Regional Command (South and Southeast Sulawesi), 14th/Udayana Regional Command (Bali and West Nusa Tenggara), the 15th/Nusa Tenggara Regional Command (East Nusa Tenggara and East Timor), the 16th/Pattimura Regional Command (Maluku) and the 17th/Trikora Regional Command (Irian Jaya).

Separately on Friday, TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif told the Post the "Trikora Regional Military Command will supervise three provinces that will be developed from Irian Jaya after the June 7 general election".

He said other new military commands would be set up over the next five years.

"(The plan) will be implemented gradually, depending on available human resources and budgets," he said.

According to Syamsul, Bukit Barisan Regional Military Command, which currently oversees five provinces, would later supervise only one province, that of North Sumatra.

Aceh would be supervised by the Iskandar Muda Military Command and West Sumatra, while Jambi and Riau would be under the authority of the Imam Bonjol Military Command, he said.

The vast Kalimantan province, now under jurisdiction of the Tanjungpura Military Command, would be supervised by three military commands, he said.

Sulawesi Island, currently under the jurisdiction of the Wirabuana Military Command, would be divided into two military commands.

He said the military command restructuring was part of a series of reforms in TNI, with a similar reorganization to be conducted in the Navy and Air Force.

The National Police is also restructuring its provincial police, he said.

Syamsul said the replacement of the defense and security body's name from Armed Forces (ABRI) to Indonesian Defense Force (TNI) was inserted in the 1998 Presidential Decree on the separation of the National Police from ABRI.

"Armed Forces is considered out-of-date terminology, because the military does not want wars but must defend Indonesian territory from local and foreign intervention," he said. (prb/rms/bsr)