'New govt needs to recruit more police'

In the face of strong public opposition, the government has decided to maintain the military's "territorial role" in the new military bill. During former president Soeharto's three decades of iron-fisted rule, the military command structure was abused to coerce people down to the subdistrict level into supporting the regime. The Jakarta Post asked some residents about their opinion on the issue.

Ganda Hutabarat, 52, is an executive of a non-governmental organization in Central Jakarta. He lives in Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta:

I agree with the plan to scrap military offices in rural areas which is in line with the country's democratization.

The country is in reform, and the process must not stop at reforming the military. I think the military territorial command at the regional and municipal levels should be merged, while the soldiers should be taken back to barracks.

As a consequence, we will need more police officers who will be fully responsible for civilian security and order. Therefore, the new government must recruit as many police officers as possible.

Selamat Saragih, 52, is a senior journalist with a prominent daily newspaper in West Jakarta. He lives in Cengkareng Timur, West Jakarta:

What I fear from the new government is the possible return of military domination in certain official positions which should be held by civilians.

Therefore, elected president SBY (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) has to prove he is no longer a military man. He must immediately scrap military posts at least at the village, subdistrict and district levels. And their function should be replaced by the police.

However, we still need the presence of military offices in border areas, like in Irian Jaya, West Kalimantan and Riau, to prevent foreign penetration and smuggling, both to and from Indonesia.

But in peaceful areas like Jakarta their presence is not necessary.

--The Jakarta Post