Army developing new military commands

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)