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)