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.