Debate marks Kostrad's anniversary

Debate marks Kostrad's anniversary

JAKARTA (JP): In a rare candid debate with human rights
campaigner Bambang W. Suharto, soldiers from the Army's Strategic
Reserves Command (Kostrad) explained why the public often accused
them, and the Indonesian Military as a whole, of being serial
human rights abusers.

"Why does public opinion always perceive there are human
rights abuses in every military operation?," cried out someone
from a sea of 100 battle-fatigued Kostrad soldiers.

A series of questions were directed at Bambang, inquiring why
most people outside the military were prejudiced toward soldiers
who were merely carrying out their duty.

While many of Bambang's responses were diplomatic, not
containing any hint of cynicism toward his audience, the
interaction displayed the divergence between the frequently
voiced public opinion and the views of the very soldiers often
prejudged to be rights abusers.

It was also a revealing glimpse of the soldiers' lack of
comprehension of the fears ingrained in society.

Bambang himself craftily remarked on the soldiers' own
infamous reputation.

"I feel honored to be invited before Kostrad troops who all
this while have been regarded as one of the main human rights
abusers in the country," he said.

"But this is what the public thinks, not me" he quickly
quipped to, oddly, resounding applause.

The dialog on Saturday was part of a series of events to mark
Kostrad's 39th anniversary which falls on Monday.

"I believe a good understanding of human rights issues should
be gradually introduced to soldiers to help eliminate their (bad)
image," Bambang remarked during the dialog in Mandala hall at the
Kostrad Headquarters, Central Jakarta.

The audience was a challenge for Bambang, the deputy chairman
of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).

It was clear he needed to win them over on the validity of a
concept usually accepted as self-evident in other public forums.

One soldier asked why human rights abuses buried in the past
should be dug up again.

"It seems that the work of Komnas HAM is just opening up old
wounds. Will they still be responsible for patching up these
wounds once they are open?"

Bambang replied that the intention was not to merely aggravate
old wounds. "What we do is listen to pleas of the people, the
victims, to find out who are the masterminds behind all this," he
said.

"We should actually be thankful because we have an opportunity
to correct past mistakes. The core reason is so such incidents
will not reoccur."

One of the most contentious issues to be brought up was the
accusations that the commission and its various committees
investigating rights abuses from East Timor to Maluku had
displayed bias against the military.

No less than former military chief Gen. Wiranto and other top
brass have challenged the objectivity of the commission, which
has repeatedly accused the military of being responsible for
numerous offenses.

In the words of one soldier: Why does Komnas HAM always
"attack (TNI) and one-sidedly accuse (it) of violating human
rights?"

Bambang retorted that Komnas HAM was merely an "instrument" to
carry out the general's public aspirations. He contended that the
commission never purposely set out to besmirch TNI.

"It's crystal clear that the government has a strong will to
accommodate public demands and I think this nation should abide
by the international human rights convention as soon as we will
ratify it," he said.

Bitter

One middle-ranking officer questioned whether the TNI as an
institution could be held responsible for rights abuses since
soldiers accused of such violations in many cases were merely
carrying out orders.

"Even generals and troops only carry out their duty. All
operations are part of TNI's official duties."

Bambang skirted his question saying that by nature TNI was not
a human rights abuser, but those holding the authority of command
should be aware of the risks and excesses of military operations.

"Don't lose your esteem because of the numerous accusations of
rights abuses. We're only after the masterminds. TNI as an
institution would not commit such a crime but those inside it
should be cautious of the operations they design," Bambang
remarked.

During the three-hour discussion outgoing Kostrad chief Lt.
Gen. Djadja Suparman remain glued to his front row seat.

The three-star general, who has expressed some degree of
resentment at being replaced after just three months in command,
closed the dialog with the hope that it had shown that Kostrad
was not inattentive to human rights issues.

But while he was all smiles during the official proceedings,
later with journalists Djadja again sounded bitter at the
prospect of leaving the strategic command.

"My wife, my parents and the 30,000 Kostrad personnel are hurt
by this decision. I've tried to calm them down," he said.

In what could be perceived as a veiled threat, Djadja even
warned that such resentment could spillover.

"It's dangerous, very dangerous if (Kostrad) soldiers get mad
as now they are deployed in every corner of the country. In Ambon
and everywhere," he claimed.

When asked on how he controlled the thousands of reportedly
disappointed Kostrad personnel, Djadja said: "I just told them
not to get offended (by my replacement)." (emf)