Respected institutions prone to internal conflict: Observers

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta

A noted historian warned on Thursday that the country was prone to collapse due to the absence of credible institutions or forces that could hold it together.

Anhar Gonggong of the University of Indonesia (UI) pointed out that even the Indonesian Military (TNI), which has always claimed to be a solid force responsible for national unity, was riddled with internal conflicts and intrigues.

"Indonesia is prone to collapse despite claims that it is a unitary state. Look at what happens in Aceh and Papua, where angry people fight for independence, or even Riau, where an independence movement has emerged," Anhar said at the launch of Maj. Gen. (ret) Kivlan Zen's book "Konflik dan Integrasi TNI-AD" (Conflicts and the Integration of the Army).

The book details conflicts, cliques and intrigues within the Army since its establishment in 1945 to the present day.

"The military, which has long claimed to be the only respectable institution, has to publicly admit that it is not as firm as it once was," Anhar said.

"From the book, we could say that the country is yet to complete its journey so that people can call it a unitary state," he added.

Kivlan, former chief of staff of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad), also wrote of internal conflicts within the Navy, the Air Force, and the National Police, although he did not discuss these at length.

The book also deals with the formation of controversial militia groups ahead of the 1998 extraordinary meeting of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

It describes an order from then TNI chief Gen. Wiranto to Kivlan to hire thousands of youths to block demonstrating students from disrupting the meeting.

Clashes erupted between militia groups called Pamswakarsa, who were armed with sharpened bamboo sticks, and the students, in which at least 10 people from both camps were killed.

According to Kusnanto Anggoro, a military observer from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the chapter disclosed new facts about the existence of a chain of command from "the superiors to the subordinate".

"Up until now, the hierarchy of the military has been blurred, and in many cases, the institution may sacrifice its personnel if their actions tarnish the institution's image, no matter if they carry out their superiors' orders.

"It has almost become a habit for the military to 'legitimize' their wrongdoings -- I wonder (what would happen) if they led the country," Kusnanto said.

Wiranto is one of five presidential candidates contesting the July 5 election, the country's first direct presidential election.

Meanwhile, Kivlan said, the launch of his book did not have any political motive, he merely sought to "tell the public the truth."

"I wish Pak Wiranto would revise his book, Bersaksi di Tengah Badai (A Testimony Amid the Storm), in which he said that he didn't know about the establishment of Pamswakarsa," Kivlan said.

Anhar supported Kivlan's words, saying that Wiranto should withdraw from the presidential race if "he is a statesman, instead of a politician."