House fails to pin down Endriartono on reform

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.