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.