Generals display flair in debate
Generals display flair in debate
Rendy Witular and M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
True colors were displayed on the second day of the two-day
official presidential dialog on Thursday, as the retired generals
among the presidential and vice presidential candidates presented
their ideas on the place of the military in Indonesia.
During the presidential debate, called a dialog by the
organizer, the General Elections Commission, presidential
candidates Hamzah Haz, the current Vice President, Wiranto and
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, both retired generals, responded to a
range of issues.
One of the topics they touched on was the territorial
structures within the Indonesian Military (TNI) and whether the
TNI commander should be subordinate to the Ministry of Defense.
The two issues, raised by panelist Ikrar Nusa Bhakti, a
researcher on military issues, are among the most crucial in
efforts to end the TNI's traditional role in politics.
Thursday's dialog was more lively than the previous night's,
with all three of the candidates showing a command of the issues
and a general ease fielding questions.
In Wednesday's dialog, featuring candidates Megawati
Soekarnoputri and Amien Rais, Megawati appeared flustered more
than once when cut off by moderator Ira Koesno, and Amien came
across as the much more communicative candidate.
However on Thursday many among the 300 spectators who gathered
at the Hotel Borobudur to watch the event, left the venue early.
Several said they were bored because the candidates failed to
offer concrete explanation.
The candidates on Thursday said the territorial structures
within the military, which run parallel to government offices
from the central level down to villages, should be maintained,
despite the promise of military reform announced by Wiranto in
the "New Paradigm" document in the early days of the "reform
era".
The territorial structures are seen by many as one source of
inherited problems from the past regime, as they extend the
military's role in society beyond their defense role. However, in
the "white book" of the defense ministry the structures are
maintained.
Former military commander Wiranto said he would not resume the
political function of the territorial structures if elected.
"I want (the structures) purely for our defense against
infiltrators and rebels," he said, adding that he would boost the
territorial commands in terms of skill and defense equipment.
Former chief security minister Susilo also said the structures
were still needed, but added that the commands needed to be
"purified" and returned to their defense role only and should not
dabble in politics.
Retired general Agum Gumelar, Hamzah's running mate, said the
territorial structures had the ability to anticipate "horizontal
conflicts". "The territorial commands are also needed to prevent
infiltration by invaders," said Agum.
On whether the TNI commander should be subordinate to the
minister of defense, only Agum answered in the positive.
Currently the TNI commander is on par with Cabinet ministers.
Ideally, he said, "the TNI commander should be accountable and
bow to the minister of defense, as in developed nations. This is
part of a strategy to drive civilian supremacy".
Susilo said what was important was that "there should be no
intervention made by each other. I prefer to maintain the current
structure, with the minister of defense dealing with budgetary
affairs and general defense policy".
Wiranto agreed with Susilo, saying that "it is not yet time
for the TNI to be under the minister of defense, although the
military has agreed to follow regulations and laws set up by
civilians".
In the dialog there was one amusing incident, when panelist
Harkristuti Harkrisnowo, a legal expert, questioned Hamzah over
his plan to "change the mind-set of men regarding women, who are
regarded as "second-class citizens".
Hamzah, who officially has three wives, looked puzzled. The
panelist repeated the question and Hamzah gestured to Agum for
help, who stepped in and answered the question.