Juwono is ideal man for the job
For the first time the post of Minister of Defense and Security goes to a civilian, former deputy governor of the National Resilience Institute Juwono Sudarsono, and the Indonesian Military is no longer in the hands of an army officer. Political researcher Mahrus Irsyam of the University of Indonesia talks to The Jakarta Post on these changes.
Question: The Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander is now Admiral Widodo. Would the army, which has been in power for so long, be able to accept being led by someone from the navy?
Answer: At this stage I cannot imagine they can do so but if the army is willing to be forward-looking, they should be able to understand. It will be good for TNI to be led by Widodo. Most of our territory is sea as compared to land.
It would be even better to do away with the position of the TNI Commander altogether, because this job could be a source of competition among the forces. It could be changed to chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who would answer to the president, which would be held in rotation by the respective chiefs of all the forces.
Also, the Coordinating Ministry for Defense and Security should be phased out in the future. Coordinating ministries in the past were just created to maintain loyalty to Soeharto, so ministers could not get direct access to him.
The Ministry of Defense and Security should only be the Ministry of Defense. Security should be held by the police and not be part of the Ministry of Defense.
Q: What do you think about Juwono as Minister of Defense and Security?
A: Juwono is the ideal man for the job because he will be able to carry out the required reforms in the ministry. If the post were given to an active or even retired TNI member, they would not be able to make changes in the military's structure.
The necessary changes include a review of the defense and security law. All matters will have to be discussed with the House of Representatives now because of the implications for civilians and to ensure that TNI is not abused by those in power.
It will have to be decided whether the military wants to maintain regional military commands or provincial military commands.
Noncommissioned Army officers responsible for the management of village affairs (babinsa) must also be done away with.
Q: Would the military be willing to give up all that given that such institutions have been said to be its source of power and income?
A: They will have to if they want to reform themselves (TNI has introduced its "New Paradigm" -- ed). This definitely would have implications on their businesses. Military cooperatives should no longer be attached to local military commands because they could abuse power which they don't have.
According to the law (on regional administration) the governor or a regent is the sole authority in a given province or region.
So all this time there has been a violation of this law, given the power of the local military commanders and an abuse of the rights of civilians.
The military should have to answer to governors or regents in their respective areas, and they could help provide security when required.
The military will have to prepare their pensioners to stand on their own two feet. They should no longer be allowed to enter state-run companies. They could develop the cooperatives ... with capital from military-run firms.
Q: In a joint paper for a workshop on the military, you proposed the phasing out of the territorial system starting in Aceh with the withdrawal of all troops, leaving only three military bases for external defense. Why did you propose one of the areas where the military seems most keen in keeping a presence? Isn't it too sensitive?
A: The military presence in Aceh is the most sensitive to civilians there. The contribution of the people of Aceh to the Republic is very significant and this must be taken into account. (anr)