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)