Military professionalism

Military professionalism

In the current climate of uncertainty and confusion, the
assurance given last week by Indonesian Army Chief of Staff Gen.
Endriartono Sutarto that the Army would refrain from ever
forcefully taking power, effectively puts an end to fears of a
military coup d'etat at any time in the near future.

As has been widely reported in the media, that decision was
made during a meeting held at Army Headquarters last Friday
attended by 55 Army generals currently holding positions in the
military, the Ministry of Defense or serving several other
functions.

Another major decision worth noting is that the Army will not
interfere in the current burning issue of presidential
succession, or in replacement of the existing constitutional
mechanism. This means that the Army will leave the present
controversy regarding the impeachment or replacement of President
Abdurrahman Wahid to legislators in the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR) to decide.

It may also be worth noting that the meeting last week was
held in response to an earlier statement by Indonesian Military
(TNI) Commander Adm. Widodo that the TNI would no longer involve
itself in day-to-day politics, instead adopting a purely
militarist role as defender of the country.

Those who are familiar with the history of TNI will not fail
to recognize the significance of the decision. Throughout much of
Indonesia's rather brief history as an independent country, the
Indonesian military has insisted on existing with a "dual
function" by serving the nation as defenders in times of danger,
as well as a sociopolitical force to ensure effective governance
and protect the nation's stability.

For decades the TNI has laid claim to such a privileged
position, based on the argument that it was born a people's army
defending the country against the threat of a return to Dutch
colonial rule, while effectively administering territories over
which the civilian administration of the Republic of Indonesia
had no control.

The dual function concept which finally delivered the military
with the all-powerful role of running the country, as most
Indonesians are familiar with during the New Order administration
of president Soeharto, however, can be traced back to the late
1950s, after then-president Sukarno launched his "guided
democracy" system of governance.

To be fair, the dual function concept brought many benefits
for Indonesia. For one thing, it ensured stability, which is a
major precondition for economic development. On the other hand,
the concept made the military difficult to control -- which in
the longer term proved to be damaging to the nation.

One legacy which the military's dual function of the past
decades has left is the proliferation of military businesses.
These businesses have been described by some observers as
constituting the biggest and most powerful conglomerate in the
country, remaining difficult to control until this day.

A less obvious, but no less damaging, effect of the military's
dual function is the limitation of public liberties, which in the
short term may have a stabilizing effect on the country, but in
the longer term suppresses creativity and leads to harmful social
disparities.

Obviously, a strong military is needed, especially in a
country such as Indonesia with its archipelagic geography and
immense diversity. That strength, however, must be accompanied by
a high standard of professionalism.

In the current situation it is difficult to say that the goal
of military professionalism has been achieved. The apparent
inaction which the police and military have been displaying
during various incidents of unrest, including the recent conflict
in Central Kalimantan, tend to confirm such doubts.

It is nevertheless heartening to see that the TNI appears to
have begun to show a degree of professionalism by disassociating
itself from day-to-day politics. It is a stance deserving support
from the government, legislature and indeed the whole of the
nation. The TNI should be allocated the necessary means to
develop into a force capable of not merely defending the nation
against external dangers, but hopefully of also preventing the
nation from breaking up through the use of firm but humane
measures.