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)