Defense paper revives military's security role
Defense paper revives military's security role
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A recently released white paper on Indonesia's defense points
to "imminent domestic threats" as the country's biggest worry in
the coming years, and suggests that the Indonesian Military (TNI)
be handed back both security and defensive roles.
The paper, drafted by the Ministry of Defense, says that
within the next 10 to 15 years Indonesia will not face serious
threats from other countries in the form of invasion or military
attack, but will face various domestic dangers, including radical
movements, communal conflicts, terrorism and separatist
movements.
In the absence of the threat of invasion, the paper identifies
foreign threats as transnational crimes detrimental to the
country's security, such as piracy, illegal logging and people
smuggling.
According to the white paper, military operations
significantly different from those associated with traditional
warfare will be required to deal with these threats.
"As a defensive tool of the state, the TNI will play its role
in handling these threats, while the National Police, as a
security force, will carry out its main duty of upholding
security and public order in line with the law on the National
Police," the paper says.
The paper calls for the preservation of the military's much-
criticized territorial function, arguing that tradition dictates
that the armed forces cannot be separated from the people.
To make these principles operational would require revisions
to People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) decrees No. 6/2000 on the
separation of the TNI and the National Police and No. 7/2000 on
the division of duties between the two forces.
The director general of defense strategy at the Ministry of
Defense, Maj. Gen. Sudrajat, confirmed that the defense white
paper was meant to open the debate about the need to review the
MPR decrees.
"The separation of duties between the TNI and police should be
seen from another point of view. This means that the government
can use a military approach in dealing with armed rebellion,
communal conflict or radicalism," Sudrajat told The Jakarta Post
on Tuesday.
Sudrajat was referring to military deployments to quell
sectarian conflicts in Maluku and the Central Sulawesi town of
Poso between 1999 and 2002. These conflicts left thousands of
people dead and hundreds of thousands displaced.
He said dialog to resolve problems in the rebellious provinces
of Aceh and Papua could be followed by the use of military force.
The white paper's focus on domestic security rather than
foreign threats has caused some criticism.
Some military observers said the white paper failed to explain
efforts to develop a professional military, which is the
objective of internal reform within the military.
"The military's involvement in political institutions is not
present in the white paper, but its extensive role in handling
various social problems can pave the way for the TNI to engage in
civilian affairs," Munir, a member of military watchdog
Impartial, told the Post.
"Sadly, the paper legitimizes the military's efforts to
maintain its territorial function, which should be gradually
scrapped gradually in the spirit of reform."
The military has complained about budget shortfalls, saying
efforts to create a professional force are hampered by a lack of
funding. The state budget covers only 30 percent of the
military's operational costs.
But Munir said other state institutions faced similar
difficulties. "It is crucial for the TNI to allocate its budget
properly rather than asking the government to increase defense
spending."
Another military analyst, Ikrar Nusabakti of the Indonesian
Institute of Sciences, said the white paper could lead to the
military's taking control of civil affairs, and increase public
doubt about the police's ability to deal with domestic problems.
"Of course handling armed rebellion is part of the TNI's
duties, but still the decision to use military force belongs to
the civilian government," Ikrar said.