Military ties with U.S. vital to refine TNI
JAKARTA (JP): Military officials and observers welcomed on Tuesday the United States' intention to resume its military ties with Indonesia under strict conditions of improved performance within the Indonesian Military (TNI) on human rights and democracy issues.
Human rights activist Todung Mulya Lubis, however, was quick to warn of possible misuse of the military assistance given by the U.S. since, in many cases, both the TNI and the National Police tended to take repressive measures in tackling regional conflict.
"It doesn't mean that we don't want the TNI to become powerful, but it should meet the strict requirements and be prepared to concede to sanctions if it fails to fulfill them," he told The Jakarta Post.
He suggested that, ahead the renewal of military ties, the TNI hold human rights training for soldiers to promote humanitarian law and the implications of military operations on rights issues.
"The government and TNI have to show a strong commitment by taking rights abuses seriously and bringing perpetrators of human rights violations to trial," he said.
He added that the new cooperation should enable the U.S. to directly monitor the TNI's performance.
Todung expected strong reactions against the plan, particularly from nationalist groups who fear that the relationship will allow the superpower to dictate to Indonesia.
"But for me, any measure used to defend truth is the ultimate form of nationalism. This kind of cooperation will resume for our nation's sake, not others'. So it will certainly not harm our nationalism," he remarked.
Separately, TNI spokesman Rear Air Marshall Graito Usodo said that the TNI responded positively to the possibility of renewed military ties between the U.S. and Indonesia.
"Cooperation in the military field between two countries always gives benefits to each party and we are pleased to hear that," Graito told the Post.
He said the TNI would not object to the conditions demanded by the U.S. government as "the TNI is currently making human rights education among its soldiers a top priority".
"We are seriously handling human rights violations, including those that occurred in East Timor in 1999," he said.
Two generals have been declared suspects in relation to the violence which erupted after people in the territory voted against wide-ranging autonomy offered by Indonesia. So far, however, none of the officers have been sent to court.
When asked if the U.S. government could use the cooperation as a pretext to force a human rights tribunal for the generals, Graito said: "It is the legal institutions which are responsible for the trial, not the TNI."
Ikrar Nusa Bakti from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said that the cooperation, especially in education and joint exercises, would further broaden TNI personnel's minds and lead them toward greater professionalism.
He suspected that the TNI remains unable to break with the past -- when it was given access to social, economic and political realms -- in spite of the reform movement. Ikrar said the old dual function concept had become institutionalized.
"Under any new cooperation, like it or not, the U.S. will help the TNI improve professionalism as happens in developed states, where the military accepts civilian supremacy," he said. (bby/tso)