Thu, 09 Mar 2000

Govt abolishes Bakorstanas, 'litsus' system

JAKARTA (JP): In another move aimed at promoting a civil society and human rights principles, President Abdurrahman Wahid decided on Wednesday to disband the military-controlled Agency for the Coordination of Support for National Stability Development (Bakorstanas).

Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak said the President also decided for the same reasons to revoke a special screening process, locally known as litsus, which was applied in the recruitment and promotion of state officials and civil servants.

"The President considers Bakorstanas has caused trouble rather than solved problems. The agency also created disorder both at the central and regional levels," Marsilam said in a media briefing that followed a Cabinet meeting at Bina Graha presidential office.

Minister of Law and Legislation Yusril Ihza Mahendra and chief of the State Intelligence Coordinating Board (Bakin) Lt. Gen. Arie Kumaat also spoke at the briefing.

Through Presidential Decree No. 29, dated Sept. 5, 1988, then president Soeharto established Bakorstanas to replace the notorious Restoration of Security and Public Order Command (Kopkamtib), which he set up in 1974. Gen. Benny Moerdani was the last military chief to hold the top Kopkamtib post.

According to the 1988 presidential decree, the nonstructural agency is assigned to coordinate ministries and other government institutions to develop national stability, and to collect information on the possibility of the emergence of obstacles and challenges to national stability.

The armed forces chief is the ex-officio chairman of the agency, assisted by permanent members from ministries, Army, Navy, the Air Force, National Police, the attorney general and Bakin.

Then military chief Gen. Try Sutrisno was the first head of the agency.

At the regional level, regional military command (Kodam) chiefs head the agency's provincial divisions.

Bakorstanas was long regarded by many as an oppressive military agency which did not differ from Kopkamtib.

Yusril said the President ordered the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief to disband Bakorstanas within one month.

Arie expressed confidence that Bakin and other intelligence agencies would be capable of anticipating and guarding against threats to the country.

"We must make more comprehensive observations both inside and outside the country before declaring someone to be the enemy of the state. We cannot merely brand someone with different opinions than us as our enemy," Arie said.

Yusril said the abolition of Presidential Decree No. 22, dated April 17, 1990, meant that civil servants, politicians and state officials were no longer subject to the screening procedure before assuming their new posts. Job seekers also are no longer obliged to produce documents attesting to their good conduct.

The minister said the screening was traumatic for society and often victimized innocent people, including politicians and soldiers, because there were no clear standards and procedures governing the process.

The screening was essentially aimed at checking whether someone was a member of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) or other illegal organizations, or was linked to them through their kin or by association.

The examination was conducted by relevant government agencies, including ministries, state agencies and the military. Legislative candidates, journalists and others holding politically sensitive positions were also subject to screening.

"We must return to the principles of law, that everyone is assumed innocent until he/she is proven guilty," said Yusril.

The Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (KAP T/N) hailed the government's decision as a significant step toward democratization. In a statement signed by its coordinator, Gustaf Dupe, the committee asked the government to rehabilitate victims of the two old decrees and amend all laws that were deemed to be against democratic principles. (prb)