Respected institutions prone to internal conflict: Observers
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."