House starts to deliberate bill on Indonesian Military
House starts to deliberate bill on Indonesian Military
Kurniawan Hari and Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta
The House of Representatives has been urged to delay deliberation
of the bill on the Indonesian Military (TNI), warning that if
passed the controversial bill would only weaken defense forces.
Kusnanto Anggoro from the Centre for Strategic and
International Studies said lawmakers should draft necessary
related bills before continuing the deliberation of the military
bill.
Other bills needed to build a comprehensive defense system
include those on mass mobilization, reserve forces and
cooperation with the National Police, he said.
"If brought for deliberation and endorsement, the military
bill will only damage Indonesia's defense forces," he told The
Jakarta Post on Sunday.
Kusnanto is among the military and defense analysts who have
been invited to present their views on the bill to the House's
defense commission on Monday.
Other analysts expected to discuss the bill are Salim Said. J.
Kristiadi, Ikrar Nusa Bhakti, Yahya Muhaimin and several retired
military officers.
Officials from defense institutes and study centers are also
expected to provide input.
One military officer said there was no need for lawmakers to
rush to complete the deliberation of the bill in the final month
of their term.
Col. Yani Basuki from the TNI's information department said it
was unnecessary to rush the bill through the House because
soldiers' activities would not be hampered by the absence of the
regulation.
"It is fine with us (the military) if the House and the
government fail to finalize the deliberation of the bill within
this last month, as we can continue carrying out our daily tasks
under other existing laws," Yani told the Post.
However, he refused to respond to criticism of the bill,
saying "the military will not add fuel to the current debate over
the bill because it is the government and the House that set
policy for us and we just follow".
The government-sponsored military bill, among other things,
would allow military officers to take positions in the state
administration without retiring from the military.
This contradicts a stipulation in a People's Consultative
Assembly decree issued in 2000 that requires military officers to
retire before taking such positions.
If the bill is passed with this stipulation, it will encourage
active military officers to find "civilian" positions, disturbing
efforts to build a professional military, some analysts have
said.
The military bill also maintains the military's control over
territorial affairs.
Analysts said it also failed to move the position of the
military chief from under the president to under the defense
minister. The current position of the military chief under the
president enables the military to take part in the decision-
making process, which should not be part of its duties.
There has been public opposition to the bill, which the
analysts say would only revive military involvement in political
affairs. Numerous non-governmental organizations have also voiced
their opposition.
Critics have urged lawmakers to delay the deliberation of the
bill and allow the matter to be taken up by the next House, which
will be sworn in on Oct. 1.
Despite the growing opposition, legislators are adamant about
deliberating and endorsing the military bill before their five-
year term ends in September.
They say they have to finish deliberating the bill this term
to allow legislators from the military to take part in the
process. Neither the military or the police will have appointed
representatives in the next House.