No more problems please
I would like to comment on a report in Media Indonesia on March 6 which read "USA can support TNI take over" (though based on a misquote of the Washington Post editorial. --Ed.), to prevent Indonesia from falling apart and to restore law and order.
On the same day the Suara Rakyat reported a meeting between Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, the Chief of the Army's Strategic Command Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu and Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly Amien Rais, where the TNI expressed they were not prepared to support President Abdurrahman Wahid's leadership anymore.
These two items put the TNI in a very awkward position, considering the anti-TNI sentiments of politicians and non- governmental organizations, which is not a new phenomena.
In June 2000 Munir of the independent Committee for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, supported by other NGOs, wrote to U.S. Senator Mitch McConnel Callahan, a member of the House Appropriation Committee, requesting the U.S. postpone their military cooperation with Indonesia until democracy in Indonesia is running well.
Domestically the TNI is not well liked, not because of their bad performance but because of their lack of efficiency and discipline and a well organized unit and clear line of command.
The politicians are jealous, feeling they cannot compete with TNI, so they try to discredit TNI in the eyes of the public.
TNI has repeatedly expressed sincerely that it will no longer participate actively in politics, yet suspicion lingers on.
Civilians had the chance to play a dominant role when Gus Dur named his cabinet, Gus Dur, a civilian, still appointed TNI members. This clearly shows civilians' weakness, that they are not yet ready to bear the full responsibility of political life.
TNI has clearly expressed that now its members want to concentrate on being professional soldiers. Civilians must realize that the dual function doctrine was born not because of power hungry officers, but simply because the nation needed them to participate in politics.
Accusations may surface because of reports that the TNI is secretly approaching the United States for support for an imagined take over, and the TNI, which has enough political and psychological problems, will have more problems that they don't need.
Despite this I am sure the TNI will survive and the people will maintain their hope and confidence in the TNI. But don't push too hard because TNI members are humans, and their patience and tolerance have limits.
The civilian political players must realize that it is better to embrace TNI than to antagonize them, because TNI loves Indonesia more than any other organization, and are prepared to sacrifice everything for our beloved unitary republic.
SOEGIH ARTO
Jakarta