Lawmakers raise brows at local defense office plans

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Several House of Representatives legislators questioned on Tuesday a plan to open offices of the Ministry of Defense at the provincial level, saying there was no legal basis for the expansion and the offices would overlap with regional military commands.

Effendy Choirie of the National Awakening Party (PKB) suggested the existing regional military commands, which represent the military's territorial role, be dissolved before the provincial offices of the defense ministry were set up.

"This plan should be delayed pending the deliberation of the Indonesian Military (TNI) bill," he said on Tuesday.

Fellow legislator Djoko Susilo of the National Mandate Party (PAN) said the plan was unacceptable as Law No. 3/2002 on national defense did not mandate the establishment of regional offices of the ministry.

"I think the plan is questionable," he said.

He also wondered whether the real motive behind the proposal was to provide jobs for retired military officers.

Amris Hassan from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) expressed concern the plan would spark confusion, as defense affairs in regional governments currently fall under the local military commands.

The lawmakers suggested the government reconsider the plan and conduct an intensive study before bringing the proposal to the House.

During a recent meeting with the House commission on defense, the Ministry of Defense's secretary-general, Vice Marshal Suprihadi, said the government planned to open defense ministry offices in the provinces.

According to Suprihadi, the plan was being discussed with the Office of the State Minister for Administrative Reforms.

Suprihadi said the regional offices would help locals understand defense affairs and their role as a reserve unit of the nation's defense forces.

Currently, regional military commands at the district, regency and provincial levels are in charge of defense affairs in the regions.

Defense ministry official Rear Admiral Darmawan said the provincial offices were urgently needed to cope with regional defense operations.

He also reminded lawmakers that the central government was responsible for regulating, coordinating and synchronizing defense activities across the country.

Darmawan said the defense ministry and the TNI would contribute personnel to the new offices.

The plan was first raised by the ministry's director of defense strategy, Maj. Gen. (ret) Sudradjat, in June.

He said the regional offices would help the ministry implement its policies in the regions.