Army ready to give up vital role

JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto asserted on Friday that the Army was prepared to hand over its territorial function to the National Police and provincial administrations.

"There is no problem for us in handing over our territorial function if it is considered to have obstructed democracy, on the condition that both the regions and the police are deemed ready to take over the function," he told reporters when accompanying Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. on a visit to the Jakarta Military Command.

Endriartono said the Army had no objection to the consequent dissolution of district military commands (Kodim) at the regency level and all military units at lower levels, including subdistrict military commands (Koramil) and military officers in charge of village security (Babinsa).

He said the Army would even be willing to abolish regional military commands (Kodam) at the provincial level, but there must be substitute military organizations -- without territorial functions -- to accommodate military officers with certain structural positions.

"However, it has yet to be decided when the territorial function will be handed over to the regional administrations," Endriartono said.

He, nevertheless, acknowledged that the plan to abolish the military's territorial role was in line with a 2000 decree of the People's Consultative Assembly on the role of the TNI and the National Police.

The plan to abolish the military's territorial role was first disclosed by Lt. Gen. Agus Widjojo, chief of the Indonesian Military's Territorial Affairs.

Agus said on Tuesday that the military would gradually hand over its territorial affairs to local administrations and focus on defense affairs.

The military's territorial function has long been criticized for having hindered the development of democracy.

With its territorial function, the military has been deeply involved in civil affairs, especially during the administration of former president Soeharto, who used military networks down to the village level to silence its critics and maintain the status quo.

Nevertheless, the military's territorial work has in some cases brought about improvements in the physical development of local areas such as in helping to build infrastructure and improve the people's social welfare.

Observers have generally welcomed TNI's plan to abolish its territorial function and focus on defense matters, saying that it would improve its professionalism.

The National Police, however, are unsure whether they are ready to assume the territorial functions, together with the local administrations.

Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi, chief spokesman for the National Police, declined to comment, saying that "it is quite a sensitive issue."

Didi's deputy, Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang, was also cautious to comment on the issue, saying that "it's not final yet. Just wait for the final decision."

When pressed further, Aritonang said that principally the police were ready to heed any calls to maintain security and public order.

However, if the police had to assume the military's territorial role in preparing the people's defense system, Aritonang said the police would not be able to do so alone, saying that it would need the support of the people and the military. (rms/emf)