Major changes in the military

A big change is going on in the Indonesian Military (TNI), a change long awaited by civilian politicians. Students and mass organizations have staged numerous demonstrations demanding the abolition of the military's dual function policy. The demonstrations were participated in by thousands of people, some out of conviction and many for handsome pocket money as they do not know what it is all about. In this new democratic era, organizations and parties sometimes rely more on numbers to put forward their opinions and convince other groups of their ideas, rather than using deliberation, logic and reason.

We cannot deny that many people are accepted as a token of strength on the condition that those people know what it is all about. TNI has just finished its historic commanders' call and important historic decisions have been made. The most important is that TNI will stop entering the political arena and concern itself instead with the defense of the country. National security will be taken over by the Indonesian Police.

TNI chief Adm. Widodo AS stated that the attitude and activities of TNI would always be within the boundaries of the Constitution and the existing laws. It is the strong will of TNI to always maintain the supremacy of the law in the democratic framework (Kompas, April 22, 2000). It is a courageous statement and should be supported by all of us. But if TNI decided to uphold the Constitution and act according to the Constitution, then what will happen to the existing laws about the military's dual function? As far as I know, the laws still exist.

The dual function is not a creation of TNI, but it is based on law and TNI is merely doing what the law indicates. The dual function is not the fruit of action by power-hungry military officers. It was lawfully created by lawful institutions of the people. People's Consultative Assembly Decree TAP/MPR No IV/1978, Provisional People's Consultative Assembly decree No. XXIV/MPRS/1966, Law No. 7/1957 on the national board, Law No. 80/1958 on the national planning board, forces outside the defense sphere, Law No. 20/1982 of Sept. 19, 1982, Law No. 2/1988 -- all deal or have something to do with the dual function, the role of the military outside defense.

If TNI moves within the boundaries of law, then it should think seriously about tackling these existing laws and decrees. This is heavy and serious homework for TNI.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta