Army streamlining almost complete: Maj. Gen. Agus
Army streamlining almost complete: Maj. Gen. Agus
JAKARTA (JP): The abolishment of some military territorial
commands (Kodam) has long been planned and is close to the final
stages, chief of Wirabuana Military Command Maj. Gen. Agus
Wirahadikusumah said on Thursday.
Agus said after accompanying South Sulawesi community figures
to a meeting with President Abdurrahman Wahid that the plan was
part of a review of the military's doctrine, the deliberation of
which was still underway.
"This is not an idea. It has long been thoroughly discussed in
the Indonesian Military Headquarters as well as the budget and
planning affairs community," Agus said.
Agus, dubbed one of the military's outstanding intellectuals,
is at odds with other military leaders following his
controversial proposal to slim the Army down by closing some
military commands.
The are 11 military commands across the country, including the
Pattimura Military Command overseeing Maluku which was reinstated
earlier this year. The Army has maintained 10 regional commands
since early 1980s.
TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sudrajat retorted Agus' statement on
Wednesday, saying the military authorities had considered
establishing six more regional commands. TNI chief Adm. Widodo
Adisucipto was more cautious, saying Agus had spoken in his
personal capacity.
Army chief of staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto said Agus' proposal
was not new and had long been discussed within the Army and TNI.
But he warned that any changes in the Army should not cost the
country its sovereignty and security.
Agus insisted on Thursday the proposal was worth implementing,
primarily due to financial shortage resulting from the unabated
economic criers.
"I know well about budget planning, because I am a former
planning assistant to the Army chief of staff. Who thinks
establishing a military command does not need money and
planning?" he asked.
"Military organizations in all parts of the world are
streamlining, seeking efficiency. The economic situation remains
unfavorable for us."
Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Gen,
Wiranto, who is a former Army chief of staff, did not deny the
possibility of scrapping a number of military commands.
"The Army is a dynamic organization and it will have to be
able to adjust itself to national interests and developing
situations," Wiranto said in Ambarawa, Central Java on Wednesday.
In Yogyakarta, political observer Samsu Rizal Panggabean on
Thursday warned the military against expanding its territorial
institutions on the grounds of security problems.
According to Panggabean, the military's plan would mean the
denial of earlier statements issued by top military brass, who
said that it would not repeat past mistakes.
"Expanding territorial institutions is an effort to reinforce
its involvement in sociopolitical affairs," Panggabean said.
"If the military wants to go against the people, just do it.
By setting up new military commands in provinces, the military
wants to underline its ambition for power," he added.
He said developing territorial institutions would not answer
the problems, as security approaches usually just worsened the
situation.
"Peaceful efforts in response, for example, to the demand for
freedom in Aceh, must be preserved. Such efforts are proven
better than the 'military's way'," Panggabean said.
Most of the provincial outbursts were triggered by unfair
treatment by the central government, so "what's the use of
setting up new Kodam?" he said, referring to the regional
military command.
He said that the plan had been on the military's agenda since
Sukarno's tenure. "Honestly, the policy relates to the military's
'economic' interests."
The military had agreed to let the police handle domestic
security, he said. "It (the military) should respect the deal."
(44/emf/prb/sur)