Reform era puts Army in hot water
By Ridwan M. Sijabat
JAKARTA (JP): Despite some progress in internal reform, the Indonesian Military (TNI), especially the dominant Army, has failed to impress people due to its involvement in politics, past human rights violations and drug abuse and trafficking.
Since the fall of the authoritarian New Order regime last year, TNI has adopted a new paradigm to phase out its dual function doctrine and instead focus on its main job of defense.
It raised many eyebrows, however, when it insisted that it be allotted 38 seats at the House of Representatives (DPR). The new government's support for a civil society also met with criticism after three generals joined President Abdurrahman Wahid's new Cabinet.
The presence of military and police officers and three active generals in the legislative body and the present Cabinet respectively has met opposition and fierce criticism from prodemocracy activists who remain skeptical of the prospects of internal reform within the military.
Gen. Wiranto, former TNI commander, was appointed coordinating minister for political affairs and security; Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar was appointed minister of communications; and Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono the minister of mining and energy. Minister of Administrative Reforms Freddy Numberi, who is a rear marshal, is another top government official with a military background.
Military observer Salim Said blames civilians for accepting a weak bargaining position vis-a-vis the military, although believes the latter is not as strong as it was in the past.
"Some progress has been achieved in the military's internal reform: The military exercised its neutrality during the June 7 general election, and servicemen have been barred from holding civilian positions in the bureaucracy and regency and provincial administrations," he says.
For the first time ever the TNI top job was not given to an Army man but instead went to Widodo Adisucipto, a Navy admiral. The winds of change continued with the appointment of Juwono Sudarsono, a professor in politics, as minister of defense, a position which was also traditionally held by an Army general.
Many believe Widodo's appointment as TNI chief reflected President Abdurrahman's intention to take full advantage of the country's geographic condition and marine resources.
The same position in developed countries, such as the United States and Australia, is entrusted to a naval officer.
Meanwhile, Abdurrahman's choice of Juwono is further evidence that the reformist government intends to uphold civilian rule. The President, also a civilian, is of the hypothesis that the reform movement leading to a civil society will be jeopardized if the military continues to play a dominant role in politics.
Analysts say Juwono is capable of controlling the military and its repressive approach in overcoming any problems befalling the nation.
Indonesia's image was badly tarnished in the international forum following the harsh measures TNI took against student demonstrations in the capital last year, as well as against separatist movements in East Timor, Irian Jaya and Aceh.
Atrocities
Civilian rule immediately plunged the Army, and TNI in general, into hot water for its alleged involvement in the massive atrocities in East Timor and Aceh. A number of active and retired generals have been questioned over the past human rights abuse cases in the two restive territories.
Both the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson and the local Commission on Human Rights Violations in East Timor have indicated that the Army was involved in the massive killings after the Aug. 30 self-determination ballot in the former Portuguese colony.
The recent recovery of the corpses of three priests and a number of East Timorese from a mass grave in Suai and witnesses' testimonies caused speculation over the possible role the Army played in the violence.
Hundreds of East Timorese are believed to have been killed when prointegration militias instigated unrest in the territory following their loss in the ballot.
The UN Security Council has yet to decide whether the UN Human Rights Commissioner should bring the case to the international court or leave it to the local commission to bring to trial.
The local commission has targeted former TNI chief Gen. Wiranto, Maj. Gen. Zacky Anwar Makarim, Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Syamsuddin and former Udayana Military commander Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri.
The government-sanctioned Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations (KPP HAM) in East Timor in its midterm report claimed that, based on preliminary investigation and witnesses accounts, the Indonesian Military was directly or indirectly involved in the violence perpetrated by militias.
Wiranto has argued that violence by militias in East Timor after the Aug. 30 ballot was an emotional outburst which was neither premeditated nor controllable.
He contended that the Indonesian Military (TNI) did not plan nor endorse any of the violence that took place.
"There was no planning process or policy to launch things that can be classified as war crimes or crimes against humanity," Wiranto said.
"As an institution, TNI never gave orders to burn cities, kill or create a mass exodus," he added.
Wiranto, his predecessors and other military top brass also faced questioning over their roles in crimes against humanity in Aceh, this time by the independent Team for the Investigation of Human Rights Violations in Aceh and the House special commission on Aceh.
There were reports of rampant human rights abuses in the natural resource-rich province when the military carried out operations to quell a separatist movement between 1988 and 1998.
Meanwhile, the military police corps is investigating 11 soldiers for their alleged involvement in the killing of more than 50 Acehnese at an Islamic boarding school belonging to religious leader Tengku Bantaqiah in Meulaboh in July.
Tension gripped the province following a massive rally in the provincial capital Banda Aceh on Nov. 4, which coincided with the Free Aceh Movement's (GAM) anniversary. Over a million people in the rally demanded that Jakarta allow the province to conduct a referendum to determine its future.
The President, who won international support for a peaceful settlement to the Aceh problem through dialog, has instructed an investigation into military officers, including generals, involved in the alleged massive atrocities in the past. But he also warned of repressive action if the Acehnese, including GAM members, tried to break away from the Republic of Indonesia.
Narcotics
TNI and the National Police have also been criticized for the many noncommissioned officers and soldiers involved in drug abuse and trafficking.
Antinarcotic and liquor organizations have voiced skepticism of the military's and police's efforts to fight narcotics, the use of which has become rife among students.
The recent arrests of Second Lt. Agus Ishrok, a son of former Army chief Gen. Subagyo H.S., for possessing four kilograms of shabu-shabu (crystal amphetamine), and of Pvt. Sofyan, a member of the Jakarta military police, for the possession of 90 grams of heroin were the cause of the widespread skepticism.
New Army Chief of Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto said recently that administrative punishment had been meted out to a number of military members involved in drug abuse. But whether they will be put on trial remains unclear.
President Abdurrahman and the House have called for harsh sentences, including the death penalty, for drug offenders in an attempt to curb trafficking of banned drugs.
The House also has urged the military and police to bar their members from backing gambling and prostitution, entertainment establishments and nightspots.
"It is better for the government to raise servicemen's salaries to prevent them from this sort of moonlighting. Heavier punishments should be imposed on security personnel who are found guilty of consuming banned drugs and trafficking them," J.E. Sahetapy, a legislator from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), said. (rms)