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.