Civilian leaders need to be on guard: Expert

Amid current uncertainty there are fears that the Indonesian Military will strengthen its presence ahead of the November presidential election. Political lecturer Arbi Sanit told The Jakarta Post the public, including students and politicians, lack focus on this issue.

Question: Now that the House of Representatives has approved the state security bill, should we expect a state of emergency to be declared in the near future?

Answer: No, because the House of Representatives, from whom the President needs approval to declare a state of emergency, will have already been dissolved. But continuing demonstrations might lead to the use of the old bill (on state of emergency)...

Q: The state security bill is seen by some as one way to maintain the military's political role. Do you see any other indications the military is trying to maintain its dual function?

A: East Timor is one indication ... Hanging onto civilian jobs is another. Many of the 40,000 military members in civilian jobs have not chosen between the military and their civilian jobs as required (by the Indonesian Military/TNI). An officer's pay wouldn't last a month. But one problem here is that civilians themselves are virtually inviting the military in.

Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung did this by raising the idea of (incumbent) B.J. Habibie and (TNI Commander) Gen. Wiranto becoming the next president and vice president.

(Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle chairwoman) Megawati (Soekarnoputri) did this by allowing members of her party to vote for Maj. Gen. Eddy Waluyo (of the military faction) in the election for the speaker of the Jakarta City Council.

These large parties, Golkar and PDI Perjuangan (the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle), are therefore irresponsible political parties. PDI Perjuangan acted just like Golkar; instead of letting Muslim-based parties win the position of speaker, the party chose to support the military.

Q: Are people united in demanding an end to the military's dual function?

A: Students, for one, should not join nationalistic protests related to East Timor. Such protests mean the acceptance of a continued Indonesian Military presence in the territory. Protests should be directed at those parties which allow the military in.

Q: Which presidential candidate would most likely continue the military's dual role if voted into office?

A: The chance the military's dual role would continue under Megawati is large; larger still under Habibie and, of course, the same is true of Wiranto. I hope the chance the dual role would continue would be smaller if the new president was Abdurrahman Wahid, because of (National Mandate Party chairman) Amien Rais (who supports Abdurrahman's candidacy and is an advocate of phasing out the military's political role).

Q: Do you believe in the strength of the "axis force", which groups a number of Muslim-based political parties?

A: Yes. (The parties) have 172 seats in the House of Representatives alone.

Q: How would you justify electing anybody but Megawati as president, considering her party won the most votes in the June general election?

A: Because her party did not get the required majority, or 50 percent plus one, (for a party to determine the presidency). And Megawati has been a silent bystander on many occasions.

Q: Would you prefer the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly, which will elect the president, be moved forward?

A: Yes. We could have the presidential accountability report and the presidential election all in October. The quicker the better, in order to reduce the potential of a power vacuum.

Q: What would be the consequences if later phases of the General Session, including the presidential election, were moved back?

A: Public frustration would have accumulated and it would be dangerous if we didn't have any more money. We couldn't print more money; and there would be more problems ....

Q: Do you agree with those who say Habibie should step down now?

A: No, that would again be letting Wiranto rule. Legally, the triumvirate who would take over (if Habibie stepped down) would be (Minister of Foreign Affairs) Ali Alatas, (Minister of Home Affairs) Syarwan Hamid and Minister of Defense and Security/Indonesian Military Commander (Wiranto).

Who is the most powerful of the three?

Also, if Habibie leaves now, he would be getting off too easy; again we would have a president running away from his responsibilities. Better to keep on bugging him about the Bank Bali scandal; about (the unresolved case of alleged corruption against former president) Soeharto; the threats by the International Monetary Fund (to withhold aid); and, if necessary, again about East Timor.

Q: Given the apparently limited choice in our next president, on what issues should the public be alert in order to guard against a return of the military's overpowering role in the country?

A: There are so many. The military commands down to the district and village levels should be disbanded. Why should provinces, districts and villages be the military's territory? The plan to expand military commands should be stopped, and few are paying attention to this.

Q: Major parties are getting together to produce a draft of internal rules for the Assembly. Your comment?

A: I'm happy they have finally begun some work... there are so many details to work out. They have been hungry for power; none have formed a coalition and none have drawn up a blueprint for the country's future. Without a blueprint, how are you to go about reform? Civilian politicians must prove they are capable of all this. Don't give the military an excuse to complain and take over. (anr)