New bill to require youths to do military service

Tiarma Siboro and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Claiming that the number of military personnel remains far from enough to guard the country's vast territory, the Ministry of Defense is drafting a bill that would require youths to perform military service.

The ministry's director general for defense strategy, Maj. Gen. Sudrajat, said that under the civilian participatory defense concept, the youths would be recruited and trained to support the Army's strike force.

He said the lack of military ground weaponry was the reason why the ministry was not focusing on maritime defense, despite the fact that Indonesia is an archipelagic country.

"We (the ministry) are drafting the legislation in compliance with Law No. 3/2002 on national defense, that mandates us to regulate the use of the Indonesian Military (TNI) as the main component of the state's defense, and the use of reserves and support units," Sudrajat told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.

Another aim of the program is to boost national character building and "implant nationalism" among youths, according to the Sudrajat.

Based on the proposal, which is being discussed by the ministry's officials, the draftees -- high school graduates of both sexes aged 17 years or above -- would be obliged to undergo basic military training for two months.

Fellow ASEAN member countries Singapore and Vietnam have adopted a similar defense concept. Malaysia has just introduced compulsory military service for youths.

With its population exceeding 215 million, Indonesia has around 400,000 military personnel, most of whom are in the Army. The country also has 17,000 islands.

Sudrajat, however, admitted that the proposal would need further discussion, especially regarding funding.

"I'm not sure whether the state could implement such a program in the next five or 10 years, and, of course, the military has been capable of overcoming the threats this country has faced thus far," he said.

Indonesia imposed mandatory military service in the 1960s when the country fought the Dutch over West Papua.

At that time, Indonesia spent huge sums to buy weaponry from Russia, including tanks, MiG jet fighters, and trucks. However, it continued to lack military personnel.

While admitting the compulsory military service for youths was not uncommon, military expert Ikrar Nusa Bakti warned against the use of civilian forces to fight against domestic threats.

"The bill must clearly ban the deployment of civilian forces to combat rebels. The program must be designed to counter foreign threats," he told the Post on Sunday.

Ikrar, a researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), expressed fears that the poor discipline of Indonesian people would pose dangers if such a program were to be implemented.

"I'm afraid civilians who possess military skills would only commit crimes or do destructive things when faced with economic hardship," he said.

He warned that even regular soldiers regularly breached discipline, including deserting from the military to join separatist groups in Aceh and Papua.

What Defense Law No. 3/2002 says about military service for civilians:

Article 7 (2): In case of military threat, the national defense system gives the Indonesian Military (TNI) the main role, with assistance from reserve and support units.

Article 9 (1): Every citizen has the right and is obliged to defend the country. Article 9 (2): Citizens' participation in national defense shall be arranged through:

a. civic classes

b. basic compulsory military training

c. voluntary or mandatory drafting into the TNI

d. pursuing military careers