Govt should reseize military reform agenda, ICG says

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.