New question emerges
New question emerges
The sudden installation of Navy chief Adm. Widodo A.S. as
deputy commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI) over the
weekend caught many people by surprise. Their reactions were
understandable, since the job, vacant for more than a decade, was
startlingly filled in without any fitting security or
professional reasons.
Although there are also political observers who see the step
as a technical matter, the timing has not helped lessen the
amazement of the majority of people because the policy was
executed while the nation faces the presidential election in
November. So it is not logical to blame those who see it as
politically motivated.
They believe its aim is to pave the way for TNI Commander Gen.
Wiranto to become the country's vice president, under whoever
will become the new No. 1. The four-star general, who is also
minister of defense and security, expectedly denied the
interpretation saying he needed a deputy because of the vast
responsibility and complexity of problems which must be handled
by the military today.
But his logic does not seem so impressive if one remembers
that the same complex problems were present many years ago. And
Wiranto also denied some other factual reports about the security
condition of some areas, such as Aceh. His denials turned out to
be against public belief.
People's suspicions were seemingly supported by the fact that
Wiranto could be a contender for the vice presidency, as some
political observers believe. We also should understand that when
Wiranto said last year he opposed the radical lessening of the
military's sociopolitical role, he must have had in mind the job
of national president and vice president, which had been held
since 1978 by the military.
Whether the aspiration may be workable or not is still to be
seen. But the presence of 38 military representatives in the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which will elect the
national leadership, can be a decisive factor in this case as the
recent general election failed to turn out a majority
winner.
Another ugly reality is that the military power is not only
limited by its faction but will also be reinforced by a covert
network which comprises retired generals, who have joined various
political groupings and regional representatives which will
playfully include military officers. Beyond this potential, there
are also groups outside the system which were traditionally close
to the military. If necessary, they can act as a pressure force.
Judging from the current political map, the picture looks
readable as the leading political parties have not reached a
common platform on where to place the military function in the
much aspired political reform.
They also have not -- and probably will never -- agree to
whether a figure, civilian or military, who has ardently served a
former dictator, will have a place in the leadership of a
democratic Indonesia. And this question is also applicable to any
person who the people did not elect in the recent poll.
All these arguments have made possible the fact that the
government has preferred to be mysterious in many cases. The
bureaucracy, which consists mostly of New Order ruling elite,
clearly have an interest in this method.
Now, while the political parties are making their policies for
the MPR meeting, they need to be reminded that a military officer
for future government leadership would be a naked contempt of the
general election.