Lawmakers oppose TNI territorial role

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

House of Representatives lawmakers have warned that the government's plan to revive the military's territorial function in the fight against terrorism would undermine internal reform within the armed forces and put democracy in jeopardy.

Muhammad A.S. Hikam, chairman of the House's legislation body, urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to postpone his plan, which he deemed a setback to democracy in the country.

"Most legislators have expressed objections to the plan because it will not only disrupt the military reform process but will also threaten our democracy. Military reform is already final and, therefore, the government should not wake a sleeping tiger," Hikam told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

In his speech at the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Indonesia Military (TNI) early this month, the President called on the military to revive their territorial function to help police launch preemptive actions against terrorists.

During the authoritarian New Order regime, the territorial function enabled military involvement in the political realm.

Hikam from the National Awakening Party (PKB) said the proposal violated Law No. 34/2004 on the Indonesian Military (TNI), which allows military operations only in conflict- affected, remote or border areas.

"Police will be unable to counter terrorism and people will live in fear if soldiers return to rural and urban areas. This will lead the military back to the political stage," he said.

He suspected that the plan was aimed at restoring the Army's previous dominant role in the nation's politics.

Yuddy Chrisnandi, a Golkar Party legislator, said the government should uphold civilian supremacy over the military.

"The President should be consistent with the national reform agenda and understand that people are still traumatized by the military-style government of the past," said Yuddy, whose party formed the backbone of the New Order regime that reigned until 1998.

Yuddy, also a member of the House's Commission I on defense, security and foreign affairs, said the House would continue to encourage the President to enforce the TNI law and for the military to continue its internal reform.

"The TNI has to be encouraged to gradually phase out its military presence in districts, regencies and provinces," he said.

Another PKB legislator, Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, said the House would not mind the military assisting the police in counter-terrorism. "But this must be strictly regulated in separate legislation that emphasizes that the military are subordinate to the police," she said.

"In the United States, military personnel can be deployed for certain operations to counter terrorism because most terrorist groups are armed, but the military's involvement must be under police coordination and their role limited to early detection measures."

She said a law on military deployment to help police was more realistic and urgent than reviving the old territorial function.

Hikam and Yudi suggested that in accordance with the TNI law, the President should issue a government regulation that would allow the deployment of military personnel to help police counter acts of terrorism.