Kontras objects to new TNI commands
JAKARTA (JP): The planned establishment of new military commands across the country will only serve to increase the potential for violence and the helplessness of the bureaucracy, an activist said on Tuesday.
Munir, the coordinator of the independent Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), questioned the military's plan to establish more military commands from the current 11, including in Aceh.
"The use of coercion will only lead to new social conflicts, rather than solving already existing problems," he said.
Under the New Order government, Munir added, "the weakness of the bureaucracy was caused by excessive military dominance."
He was a speaker in a seminar on the issue of national integration following the June 7 general election.
Other speakers included the Indonesian Military's assistant for general planning, Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah, agricultural expert H.S. Dillon, Sabam Sirait of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and Khofifah Indar Parawansa of the National Awakening Party (PKB). The event was held by the Indonesian Anthropology Association.
Munir reiterated his criticism of the military's decision to reestablish the Iskandar Muda Military Command in Aceh, saying it was an ill-suited answer to solve the problems in the troubled province.
"Aceh needs a new method to solve the problem, not a new military institution." He questioned the military's plan to increase the number of military commands to 21.
Agus denied the number was correct.
"In fact, the military is going to reduce the number of military commands, especially those in the more developed areas," Agus said.
"Military commands will be established in more remote areas to accelerate development in those areas.
"What do we need military sector commands (Koramil) for in Jakarta?" He said the military facilities would be better used in remote areas to help development programs.
The military announced plans in May to add eight more military commands (Kodam) by 2004 for a total of 17. The latest is the Pattimura Military Command, established on May 15 with headquarters in Ambon, Maluku.
Munir, Sabam and Khofifah blamed the military's domination of civil society as "a threat to the nation's integration".
Munir said the military's involvement in civil society ignited social conflicts in several areas, such as Aceh, Maluku and Irian Jaya.
"The use of violence, together with undemocratic practices, threaten integration in Indonesia rather than upholding it."
Agus urged the use of nonviolent methods to solve problems in society.
Khofifah said that conflicts were intentionally created. "The conflicts are to justify military presence and to provide legitimacy for repressive actions done by the military," she said.
Sabam also appealed to the military to stop meddling in civilian affairs.
"When the military places trust in the people to decide things on their own, everything goes smoothly," Sirait said. He cited the orderly congress involving thousands of his party's supporters in Bali, which entailed minimal supervision from the military.
Separately, the chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) Hendardi also appealed to Gen. Wiranto to drop the plan to reestablish the military command in Aceh and to immediately follow up on the announcement to withdraw all Crack Riot Troops from Aceh.
"The substance of establishing a military command is to create a military territory in a country which is not in a state of war," Hendardi said in a written statement made available to The Jakarta Post" last Thursday. (05)