No friction in TNI, says Gen. Tyasno
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) leaders dismissed on Friday a reported fissure in their forces following the recent polemics between senior officers.
"There is no friction in the armed forces. Differences of opinion between individuals in TNI are normal for us, and we have our own way of settling them through deliberation to reach a common understanding," Army Chief of Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto said.
He said individual members of TNI were allowed to have different opinions, but official statements which represented the institution should be the result of discussion, Tyasno said.
"All military personnel, thus, cannot challenge any official statement, but must accept it as an order," he said after meeting with community leaders from South Sulawesi and the new chief of the Wirabuana Military Command overseeing South Sulawesi, Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah.
Tyasno's remarks came on the heels of heated exchanges on the ongoing investigation into several TNI top brass for their alleged involvement in atrocities in Aceh and East Timor.
The latest spat pitted the chief of the Army's Strategic Reserve Command, Lt. Gen. Djadja Suparman, against Agus.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday, Djadja, who is a former Jakarta Military commander, warned the continuing humiliation of the Army generals would hurt the pride of their soldiers and could spark their ire.
Agus retorted the following day, saying, "TNI soldiers do not serve their generals, but the TNI as an institution and the state."
Tyasno asserted on Friday TNI would recognize the supremacy of the law and the equal treatment of everybody before the law.
"All citizens are equal before the law, meaning that the law must be enforced. But trial by the people should be avoided."
Regret
Separately, Minister of Communications Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar regretted the conflicting remarks by the two senior TNI officers, saying differences should remain an internal matter.
"I am very concerned by the controversy, which has been widely publicized. It should have been kept within TNI itself as used to occur," Agum said.
The former head of the National Resilience Institute stressed that differences of opinion were normal within TNI.
He did say, however, that an escalation of the friction or a polarization within TNI could take place if the dispute was not settled.
"Let's not comment on who's right or who's wrong. I suggest that TNI regroup and solve the differences," he said.
Agum voiced his confidence the military leaders would be able to overcome their differences.
Tyasno said the controversy would be settled at once through dialog.
When asked to comment on the dispute, Agus said he was attempting to correct the misleading paradigm on loyalty and leadership in the armed forces.
"Historically, it is the commanders and not the soldiers who take the blame. Commanders or leaders have to be responsible for the actions of their subordinates. That's the rule inherited from our predecessors," he said.
Loyalty, therefore, is not given to commanders or leaders but to the military as an institution, the state and the nation, Agus said.
"My subordinates and assistants do not serve me, they serve the military command, the Army and the country."
In another controversial statement, Agus suggested a radical streamlining of the Army by abolishing some territorial military commands and all military commands at the regency level and below.
Separately in Surabaya, East Java Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi added his voice to the chorus of criticism against Agus' statements, saying a military presence in regencies and subdistricts remained relevant due to the small number of TNI personnel.
TNI comprises some 300,000 troops.
Former Army chief of staff Gen. (ret) Rudini said Agus' proposal could only work if the Army changed its doctrine, which is based on territorial defense. (emf)