Councils' strength hinges on president

Councils' strength hinges on president

M. Taufiqurrahman and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The planned National Security Council and National Economic
Council would be helpful in drawing up general policies, but due
to their advisory role their effectiveness would rest with the
capability of the president in leading the government, analysts
say.

The likely president-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono offered on
Thursday a cabinet structure resembling that of the U.S. which
includes the national security and economic councils.

Political analyst Dewi Fortuna Anwar of the Indonesian
Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said on Friday that both councils
could play an effective role in counseling the president on a
cross-sectoral basis, and present a comprehensive view of
security and economic issues.

"If the president only consulted his ministers, they would
offer him a narrow view based on the interests of their
respective ministries. On the contrary, members of the council
would present an unbiased opinion, because they hold no
portfolio," Dewi told The Jakarta Post in a telephone interview.

Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra --
who floated the proposal on Thursday -- said the councils would
be directly accountable to the president, and tasked with
analyzing current affairs and making recommendations to the
president.

The National Security Council would comprise the president as
chairman, the coordinating minister for political and security
affairs, the National Police chief, the minister of defense and
other relevant figures.

Yusril did not provide details of the structure of the
National Economic Council.

Military observer Salim Said concurred with Dewi, saying that
the proposed councils would be of great importance to brief the
president on crucial issues.

"The Sukhoi purchase debacle would not have happened had
President Megawati been given ample information from
disinterested parties in a National Security Council," Salim told
the Post, referring to the purchase of Russian-made Sukhoi
warplanes, which almost cost the President her administration.

As to the establishment of the National Security Council,
Salim said it was long overdue. "Defense Law No. 3/2002 makes the
council's establishment mandatory. We, as the experts who helped
draft the law, proposed its establishment to President Megawati,
but our proposition fell on deaf ears," he said.

Concerning the National Economic Council, Dewi said the
council could comprise businesspeople and experts.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono
Soetarto said on Friday that the establishment of the security
council had, in fact, been mandated by the Constitution.

He said the council was aimed at addressing multifarious
security problems in the country and the TNI chief, as the figure
responsible for handling security issues, would consequently be
part of the proposed council.

"It is the structure of the council -- the TNI chief, National
Police chief, minister of defense and minister of foreign affairs
would be members," Endriartono said, after a meeting with
President Megawati.

The four-star general also said the TNI chief would
automatically assume membership in the council due to his
position, not his capacity as an individual.