House fails to pin down Endriartono on reform

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesian Military (TNI) chief candidate Gen. Endriartono Sutarto fell short on Wednesday of presenting his vision for the future of the TNI to the House of Representatives (DPR).

What he came up with instead mostly consisted of wide-ranging pledges not unlike those made by politicians campaigning to get themselves elected in a poll.

The TNI's mission, he said, was to complete its internal restructuring so as to turn it into a professional defense force.

"This can be accomplished by following up on the agenda of internal reform, mainly changing the soldiers' culture," said the Army chief of staff.

He also pledged to turn TNI soldiers into professional and disciplined troops who respected human rights.

"We will help with the implementation of humanitarian missions," Endriartono said referring to the TNI's various missions, including those related to the United Nations.

Endriartono also pledged that military promotions would be based on merit.

"We will upgrade the welfare of soldiers by imposing fair competition and rewarding their achievements and professionalism, as well as imposing sanctions on those who violate the law," he said.

What was conspicuously lacking was a vision of what the TNI would become in, say, five years from now.

During the hearing, which lasted from 9:20 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. -- with an hour's lunch break -- the legislators raised numerous questions including some very basic ones:

"How tall are you?" asked one.

Part of the blame for Endriartono's easy ride must rest with the legislators, who lacked persistence in trying to extract the four-star general's vision for the TNI's future.

The hearing began with Endriartono's presentation of a 20-page paper titled "Developing Professionalism; Changing the Essence of the Military into a State Defense Force".

It took three hours for Endriartono to finish his explanations and to listen to the questions of 23 legislators.

The legislators reluctance to grill Endriartono was apparent from the beginning of the hearing as only 39 of the 57-strong commission showed up. Later, the number rose to 45 members.

Nevertheless, commission chairman Ibrahim Ambong confirmed that all nine factions in the House had responded positively to the hearing. A recommendation from the commission was to be presented to House leaders on Thursday.

The law requires the House's approval of a military chief candidate proposed by the President.

Arif Mudatsir Mandan of the United Development Party (PPP) claimed there was not enough time for the legislators to obtain detailed information from Endriartono.

"But at least we heard his (Endriartono's) commitment to boosting military professionalism, democracy and the well-being of the foot soldiers," Arif told The Jakarta Post.

Some legislators also questioned the decision of Military Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. to extend Endriartono's commission until 2007.

Bambang Sadono of the Golkar faction feared the decision would affect the professionalism of the military. But Endriartono said that the policy was in line with Law No. 2/1988 on career extensions that made it possible for a four-star general to get a five-year extension.

According to Endriartono, he had in January informed Adm. Widodo that he was approaching the mandatory retirement age of 55, but the military chief had decided to extend his commission until 2007.

During the hearing, Endriartono cracked some jokes apparently to win the sympathy of the legislators.

"Had my military commission not been extended, I could be sitting in the front row as the commission chairman. Or perhaps, I could have joined Golkar," said Endriartono.

Responding to a concern expressed by Tengku Muhibuddin Waly of the Daulatul Ummah (PDU) faction that many soldiers had committed rights abuses, Endriartono said that soldiers were human beings who sometimes made mistakes.

"I don't want to make excuses, but a few soldiers violating the rules is normal. Pak Waly is my old friend," he said laughing.

Endriartono also emphasized that being a former commander of the Presidential Guard during the Soeharto era did not necessarily mean that he was a defender of the New Order regime.

Serving as a Presidential Guard was a professional job and should not be confused with politics, he said

"It was not Soeharto that the Presidential Guards were protecting, but the president," he said.