Lawmakers raise brows at local defense office plans
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.