Civilian leaders need to be on guard: Expert

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)