No friction in TNI, says Gen. Tyasno

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)