House of Representatives to discuss military bill

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta

The House of Representatives (DPR) is planning to start discussing the revised bill on the Indonesian Military (TNI) during the recess period that will end on Aug. 14.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri has assigned the coordinating ministry of political and security affairs, the ministry of defense, and the TNI leadership to represent the government in the deliberation.

The bill would be discussed solely by the House Commission I for defense affairs. In the past, crucial bills were deliberated by a House special committee, whose members consisted of legislators from different commissions, before they were brought to the House Commission.

Some legislators said the deliberation by the House's defense commission would save time, with only limited time available for the deliberation.

Prior to the deliberation, the defense commission on Aug. 2 will start hearing submissions from military analysts and retired military officials. The debate between legislators and government officials is scheduled for Aug. 24.

"The public and military observers have to closely monitor the deliberation process, otherwise the bill will be flawed," said legislator Firman Jaya Daeli of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle on Monday.

Article 19 in the old version gave the TNI chief authority to deploy personnel in emergencies without securing an approval from the president.

However, the new version of Article 19 states the deployment of troops in military operations or warfare must be for the national interest and other articles give the president sole power to deploy troops and use military force.

Beside the military bill, legislators also plan to discuss the Cabinet bill, the presidential advisory bill, and a revision to the Law No.22/1999 on regional administrations.

Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa, deputy chairman of the House's committee deliberating the regional autonomy bill, said the committee would try to endorse the bill in the next session.

However, top priority for the committee was a revision to a law allowing the direct election of governors, mayors, and regents, Agun said.

The revision to the law on the composition of the House and the regional legislature (DPRD) has scrapped the authority of the DPRD in electing either the governors, the mayors, or the regents.

Key Articles in the Military bill ===============================================================

Article 4: Regarding the use of military force, the TNI is under the control of the president.

Article 6: The TNI is a state instrument in defense affairs and must exercise its duties in line with state policy (the political decisions of the president and the House).

Article 18: The authority and responsibility in the deployment of

troops is in the hands of the president.

Article 63: The TNI is funded solely by the state budget. The budget is proposed through the Ministry of Defense.

================================================================ Source: Military bill