'Military should not get into politics'

The military's regional territorial command, which extends down to the regental level, was used by the Soeharto regime to impose its will on the people and to spy on suspected nonconformists. When the New Order government fell in 1998, many people had urged the new administration to eliminate the military's territorial role in the regions, but to no avail. The Jakarta Post talked to some residents about their thoughts on the issue.

Wicaksono Hidayat, 24, is a reporter for Detikcom news portal. He lives with his wife in Depok:

The function of the military within society is not very clear. If they can provide a sense of security, that's good. If they cannot, then why have them in the first place?

It's clear that soldiers are trained to be in battle. But many high-ranking officers are active in politics and business. What are they doing there?

It's rather difficult to define the function of the military because Indonesia is not at war. Maybe, during peacetime, they can take on a role like the police. But then again, their jurisdiction would overlap and cause more confusion.

Roger P. Silalahi, 34, is a security director at a multinational company on Jl. Raya Bogor, Cimanggis, Depok. He lives nearby:

Territorial command posts are still necessary because Indonesia, especially Jakarta, cannot be considered safe yet. The crime rate is still high, which is obvious from the amount of crime news in newspapers and on television.

Protecting civilians is supposedly the duty of the police, but we have to admit they are not up to the task. For decades, the police have been used to a poor work system and negative culture, like accepting bribes.

Military reinforcement is needed, especially to guard big rallies, high-profile trials like Ba'asyir's and to anticipate extraordinary situations.

The military should not get into politics. They should stick to guarding the country.

-- The Jakarta Post