Mahfud to reshuffle defense ministry

Mahfud to reshuffle defense ministry

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense Mahfud MD said here on
Saturday that he would soon 'reshuffle' his office by putting
four civilians in the first echelon lineup as part of efforts to
restructure relations between civilians and the military.

Speaking in a dialog with journalists, Mahfud said there were
now eleven military officers posted as first echelon officials,
explaining that the plan was part of the reforms designed by his
'civilian' predecessor Juwono Sudarsono.

"Pak Juwono said that it would take three years to implement
the reform plan in the (then) Ministry of Security and Defense. I
think we can start now," said Mahfud, a law expert from the
Indonesian Islamic University (UII) in Yogyakarta.

Mahfud is only the second civilian to become minister of
defense after (first President) Sukarno's era.

According to Mahfud, the Indonesian Military (TNI) has
accepted civilian supremacy and is willing to step aside from
politics.

"Many observers say there has been opposition (from the
military) against civilian supremacy. But I daresay that there is
not any formal opposition. Although, several retired military
officers have become obstacles to the movement to push the
military out of politics."

"Actually, the retired military officers are not against the
reform movement. They just want to protect themselves from
possible legal proceedings on human rights violations and
corruption committed by New Order officials in the past," he said
without mentioning any names.

Mahfud said he had been working on a draft bill clarifying the
new relationship between the military and civil authorities. "I
will soon do the finishing touch to the National Defense draft
bill, which will become the legal framework for defense affairs
and the civilian-military relations."

He said he would send the draft bill to Non-Governmental
Organizations for "more academic input" before submission to the
House of Representatives (DPR) for approval.

"A White Book and Blue Print of Indonesian National Defense
will also be published soon," he said. (23/sur)