Experts warn of low morale in TNI

Experts warn of low morale in TNI

JAKARTA (JP): Political and military analysts warn of
declining morale among many middle and high ranking Army officers
who have found themselves without a job, thanks to the withdrawal
of the Indonesian Military (TNI) from the political arena.

More than 170 officers, including 13 generals, have no posts
in the Army structure at present.

Competition for the few available posts in the Army's top
leadership therefore will likely become even fiercer. Only the
best, or at times those with the right connections, can expect to
further their career in the military.

The rest, according to the experts, should consider retiring
early into civilian life.

J. Kristiadi of the Centre for Strategic and International
Studies (CSIS) said the growing ranks of officers without a post
can be demoralizing not only for those affected but also for the
entire military.

"They can feel dejected and frustrated. Later, they might
become apathetic to the nation's problems, or even to their duty
of defending the country.

"This is dangerous because we need the TNI to guard this
nation," Kristiadi said.

Legislator Ade Komaruddin of the Golkar Party said a solution
should be found quickly.

"We don't want the TNI to be angry and hold a grudge against
civilians. This will only make things worst, and possibly lead to
a military coup," Ade said.

Lt. Gen. (ret.) Sayidiman Soerjohadiprodjo, a prominent
military thinker, proposed that these officers be given training
in business to prepare them for early retirement.

But they should be retained in the reserve forces of the Army
for a few more years in case their services were needed.

The jobless officers include three four-star generals: Tyasno
Sudarto, who lost his job as Army chief of staff on Monday, his
predecessor Subagyo Hadisiswoyo and Fachrul Razi, who was removed
from his job as TNI deputy chief last month when President
Abdurrahman scrapped the post.

Among the two lieutenant generals without a job is Agus
Wirahadikusumah, former chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves
Command (Kostrad) whose nomination for Army chief of staff by the
President was rejected by most of the top Army generals.

The President is said to be insisting that Agus now be
appointed deputy chief of staff to fill the shoes of Gen.
Endriartono Sutarto, who has moved to the top Army job.

The other unemployed lieutenant general is Suady Marasabessy
whose last post was TNI chief of general affairs.

There are six major generals without any posts: Saurip Kadi,
Kivlan Zen, Muchdi PR, Zacky Anwar Makarim, Slamet Suprijadi and
Yayat Rohadiat. Three of their peers -- Affandi, Syamsul Ma'arif,
and Sutadji -- are more fortunate, having recently been appointed
as legislators representing the TNI faction.

The three brigadier generals without any posts are Idris
Gassing, Eddy Budianto and Romulo Simbolon.

In addition, more than 150 middle ranking officers, including
dozens of colonels, have no posts or are waiting for their next
assignment.

Most middle-ranking officers lost their jobs after the
dissolution of Bakorstanas, the coordinating agency for national
stability and resilience, in Jakarta and the regions, this year.

Some had also served as councilors or regency chiefs but these
career options too have been closed with the TNI now pulling out
from practical politics under the new political paradigm.

The problem is not as severe in the Navy and the Air Force.

The TNI has also ruled since last year that any officer
intending to take up civilian posts must first resign from active
service. The ruling has been applied rigorously without any
exceptions, applying even to officers serving in the Cabinet.

Sayidiman said the officers' career planning in the Army has
been distorted by the constant intervention by then president
Soeharto.

An officer should ideally spend between three and four years
in a position before receiving a rank promotion but because of
the political interference, many got theirs after only a few
months, he said.

He recalled that Soeharto often personally recommended rank
promotions for officers who were seconded to non-military jobs
during the height of the military's "dual function" concept.

"If President Abdurrahman Wahid now wants to promote
professionalism in the military, he must pay more attention to
the personnel management aspect of the Army," Sayidiman said.

He said many middle-ranking officers have few prospects and
that they should consider retiring early.

"We suggest they go into business," he said, adding that the
government could provide them with the necessary training and
maybe even the capital. "Small and medium scale enterprises will
be suitable for them" he said.

Kristiadi proposed revamping the career system in the TNI to
one based on meritocracy and free from political intervention.

He agreed that the career planning system in the military had
been turned upside down by Soeharto who gave rapid promotions to
many young officers in the 1990s.

Many officers held their jobs for a mere few months before
they were moved to their next assignment, he said.

This not only affected their professionalism but also the
units they were entrusted to lead.

"How could an officer lead Kostrad for only few months. He
should serve at least two to three years," he said, referring to
one of the top Army posts which has seen its commander changing
almost constantly. In the past year alone, Kostrad has seen three
different commanders.

Ade said that with fewer jobs available for senior and middle
ranking officers, most of them should consider early retirement.

He believed that the number of generals in the Army must be
curtailed in the future according to needs. The Council for High
Ranking Promotions and Duty Rotations (Wanjakti) must revise its
system accordingly, he said. (edt/02)