Military pledges openness to repair its tarnished image
JAKARTA (JP): In an effort to regain the people's confidence and to repair its tarnished image, the Indonesian Military (TNI) will promote better communications with other components of the nation, a military official said on Saturday.
"The military will listen to the people, be open to positive criticism and develop friendly relations with all elements of the nation in its effort to repair its tarnished image," TNI spokesman Rear Marshal Graito Usodo told The Jakarta Post.
Along with the celebration marking its 55th anniversary on Oct. 5, 2000, TNI has planned a series of programs, including dialogs and campaigns to promote its new outlook through the local and foreign media.
"The programs will be announced by TNI Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. to the press on Tuesday," he said.
Graito admitted the military had been subject to public criticism over its past wrongdoings but said that numerous fundamental changes have been made through its internal reform program to restore its original function as a defense force.
"Of course, we have many weaknesses and have made a lot of mistakes in the past but through our internal reform the military is repositioning itself in the civilian supremacy," he said.
He said the military should remain on par with other components of the nation and work with them to build the nation.
Graito regretted that many parties, both at home and overseas, have continually discredited the military and put Indonesia in a weak position.
"But to be fair, we also deplore that there are servicemen who are involved in acts of terror that are against the military's oath," he said, while referring to two Army soldiers who were allegedly involved in the recent bomb blast at the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) building.
Separately, human rights activist Todung Mulya Lubis criticized the military for its failure to show its commitment to reform.
"So far, the military has yet to show its commitment for a thorough investigation into numerous cases of human rights abuses which have implicated a number of senior officers and retired generals," he said.
He said the military should realize that the people are really disappointed by the absence of strict measures against senior officers and retired generals believed to be responsible for the violent July 27, 1996 take over of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters, the 1984 Tanjung Priok shooting incident and the East Timor human rights abuses.
He cited for example that only low and middle-ranking officers are being questioned for the July 27 tragedy and the East Timor rights abuses.
Todung said the alleged involvement of Army elements in the prolonged sectarian conflicts in Maluku and North Maluku showed the military was not neutral while the two Army soldiers' alleged involvement in the JSX bomb blast added to its already tarnished image.
He said the people's mistrust had a correlation with the military's vile history during the New Order era.
"The military's past operations which claimed thousands of human lives in Aceh, Papua and East Timor were a reflection of TNI's support of the former repressive New Order regime and evidence that the military institution was involved.
"I do not want TNI to be continually condemned but the Army cannot easily phase out the people's suspicions over its alleged involvement in numerous violent and rights abuse cases," he said.
He said the people would give their full support to the military if it took a clear stance and strict measures against servicemen involved in rights abuse cases.
"The military must be able to convince the people that it is now on the right position in the civilian supremacy," he said.
He said the curriculum in all military and Police academies should be revised and courses on human rights should be added.
Meanwhile, military observer Salim Said said the TNI's poor image had a lot to do with the government's failure to control the military.
"The military's future depends much on the government and the House of Representatives and on their ability to control the armed forces," he said, while adding that the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) decreed on the separation of TNI and the National Police and that of their respective roles. He also said the bills on defense were good steps to fix the military's image.
He, however, said that not only TNI but also almost all institutions which were established during the New Order era have lost the people's confidence.
Salim said many blamed the military for the chaotic situation in the country because the military's new role had yet to be widely informed to the public.
"The military has been frequently blamed for the chaotic situation when it's the responsibility of the National Police," he said.
But, he said, the MPR decrees stipulated that the military could help the Police in maintaining security and order.
Asked about concrete actions the military should do to win public sympathy, he cited that servicemen should always comply with the military code of ethics, be friendly to everyone they meet and stop exerting violence against the people. (rms)