Leadership crucial in respect for the law of war: ICRC official

BANDUNG (JP): Leadership is a crucial factor in ensuring observance of the law of war in combat situations because soldiers base their actions on superiors' orders, according to Toni Pfanner, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation to South East Asia.

"Leadership is especially important in a situation where it is difficult for soldiers to distinguish between civilians and combatants. That is where commanders should give them clear instructions, otherwise troops will behave in the way they are trained to," Pfanner said in a lecture on the international humanitarian law, or the law of war.

Wednesday's lecture was part of a series of courses on the law of war and human rights held by the Bandung-based Army Education and Training Doctrine Command (Kodiklat). One thousand military instructors and education and planning officers have taken part in the program.

The program began on Oct. 21 and ended on Thursday.

Pfanner said that in Indonesia's conflict areas -- Aceh, East Timor and Irian Jaya -- it is difficult to distinguish between combatants and non-combatants due to the guerrilla tactics used by insurgent groups.

In the city, armed separatists, or GPK, do not carry weapons, but arm themselves when they are back in the forest.

"In such a situation, civilian casualties cannot be avoided. However, you must try to minimize collateral damage," Pfanner said.

Pfanner also denied a link between education and respect for the law of war.

"I don't think there's a relationship between one's educational background and respect for the law of war, not in the military, where troops simply carry out orders. Intelligence and intellect are only important at the commanding level, where officers should understand the consequences behind a decision," said Pfanner.

He said rote learning of the five principles of Pancasila, the Soldier's Oath and the seven Sapta Marga Pledges -- which would transform the country into "a nation of angels" if observed -- might have impaired Indonesians' ability to understanding what lies behind their rhetoric.

"When you understand something, for example a law, you know why it was created, what lies behind it and the consequences of violating it. That is the difference between learning something and understanding something," said Pfanner.

Despite frequently being accused of failing to observe the law of war and respect human rights, Pfanner said he had noticed significant changes in the attitude of members of the upper echelons of the Armed Forces.

"At least at the leadership level, high-ranking officers that I've met have shown a significant change in their attitude and that is important, because respect for a law is about attitude," Pfanner said. (lem)