Army wants power again

Army wants power again

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With mounting pressure from the public for soldiers to return to
their barracks across the country, the Army is demanding that it
be given a bigger role in handling security affairs in the
country.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu said here on
Thursday that the military's security role should be reinstated
due to the threats of separatism and other security disturbances.

"In other countries like the U.S., Army troops are considered
to be professional once they know how to use military equipment,
how to shoot, and understand all of the combat tactics.

"But in Indonesia, we, the Army, are part of the people. We
cannot leave domestic issues just anybody ... because we have
different conditions from the U.S. We are still dealing with
disintegration problems, whereas the U.S. is beyond that," said
Ryamizard, adding that the Army was very concerned with the
country's territorial integrity.

Ryamizard was briefing the press after holding a closed-door
meeting with hundreds of active and retired top Army officers at
the Army Headquarters on Jl. Juanda, Central Jakarta.

Those attending the meeting included coordinating Minister for
Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Minister
of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, Gen.
(ret.) Wiranto, Gen. (ret) Hartono, Gen. (ret) Subagyo
Hadisiswoyo, Gen. (ret) Rudini and former Army Strategic Reserves
Commander (Kostrad) Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo.

During the leadership of former dictator Soeharto, the
military, particularly the Army, played a major decision-making
role in the country's political, security and defense affairs.

Their dominant role, however, was whittled down somewhat in
1998 when Soeharto, who led the country for over 30 years, was
forced to resign.

In 2000, the People's Consultative Assembly, the country's
highest legislative body, issued decree No. VII limiting the role
of military to defense affairs only. And in 2002, the MPR also
agreed to end the military's political role by 2004.

Ryamizard said the idea of more involvement in handling
domestic security should not be seen as military's return to day-
to-day politics.

"We (the Army) are just sharing our ideas on how to prevent
the country from disintegrating.

"When people talk about military professionalism by asking us
to return to barracks ... I don't think they understand what the
Indonesian Army is about," Ryamizard said.

Hartono and Wiranto said that the meeting was held in order to
share their concerns about the country's serious problems of
separatism in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and Papua provinces.

Both senior generals also called on the public to stop
demanding that the Army try to emulate those in modern countries
such as the U.S., reiterating that, "the Indonesian Army has its
own specific affairs that make it impossible to stay away from
handling domestic security issues."

Indonesia has traditionally adopted a distinctive viewpoint by
which it defines "security and defense".

In the past, such a definition did not ignite too much debate
as both were placed under the stewardship of the military which
comprised the three armed forces and the police.

However, with the advent of the reform era the police were
separated from the military and are now charged with handling
domestic security.

Thus, the military cannot now indiscriminately intervene in
domestic security situations, unless a request is made.

Military analyst Ikrar Nusabakti of the National Institute of
Science (LIPI) criticized the Army's view on its security roles,
saying that the officers were likely frustrated after they once
had omnipotent influence, both in politics and security, which is
now being pared down before their eyes.

"Since Ryamizard holds the top post in the Army, I see that
the reform agenda has been completely dropped," Ikrar said.

Ikrar also said that too many "disputes" between the Army and
the police in dividing their tasks while handling the country's
domestic security problems, including the deployment of military
troops should the police require their assistance, has likely
motivated the Army to ask for its domestic roles back.

According to Article 4 of the Decree No. VII/200, the military
still have three additional roles: conducting humanitarian civic
missions, assisting the National Police in its security duties
and participating in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

"If we evaluate the five years since reform began in the
military, especially the Army, I'd like to say that it has failed
to promote internal reform as well as to place the institution
under a civilian government as part of the reposition process.

"And I think we still have to give a chance to the Police to
deal with domestic security," Ikrar told The Jakarta Post.