Govt should reseize military reform agenda, ICG says

Leo Wahyudi S, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government should retake the initiative in reforming the nation's defense sector from the hands of the Indonesian Military (TNI), the International Crisis Group (ICG) has said.

The Brussels-based research institute, which has produced numerous reports on Indonesia, warned that with the lack of clear government policy and the continuing military distrust of civilians, "TNI has been attempting to control the military reform agenda".

The recent change of government, the continuing economic crisis and the problems besetting the military, all called for a comprehensive review of the TNI, it said.

"This is an opportunity for the government to repossess the initiative and regain control of the defense reform agenda," a summary of the ICG report on the TNI reform stated.

It noted that in various legislations, including the doctrine of the total people's defense in the defense bill, TNI had begun planning and reshaping the army territorial organization.

"This is a low order reform that should stem from government policy that determines the future mission, size, shape and organization of defense forces, rather than being determined by the TNI on the basis of a vague philosophical concept contained in legislation."

The report warned of time bombs that could justify TNI's political role or limit government options, unless the civilian government seized the initiative in defense legislation.

"Effective government leadership is the best hedge against this possibility," it said.

Many analysts have warned that the momentum for reform, including within the TNI, has slackened over the last two years with subsequent civilian administrations embroiled in endless infighting.

While the TNI has professed to conduct thorough reforms, including a gradual withdrawal from the political arena, the schedule remains unclear.

The military has pledged to withdraw from the House of Representatives in 2004 and the People's Consultative Assembly in 2009. But is has not made any firm commitment to dismantle its controversial territorial structure, through which it exercises most of its political powers.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri, in her speech to mark TNI's 56th anniversary on Oct. 5, said the military should withdraw from the political arena and focus fully on national defense.

But she failed to set a firm deadline.

The ICG noted that while TNI had changed its education system to incorporate human rights training and new rules of engagement, it had yet to impose penalties for violations of these rules.

"President Megawati has committed herself to uphold respect for human rights, but what this means has yet to be seen on the ground, particularly in the troubled provinces of Aceh and Irian Jaya."

The report called on the government to review the ground rules for the country's intelligence services, and to revamp the way the government finances the military.

It also recognizes the need for the international community to assist Indonesia to help set the defense reform in motion.