Security bill lesser of two 'evils'

Security bill lesser of two 'evils'

The House of Representatives (DPR), whose members will end
their tenure on Friday, is expected to pass the state security
bill on Thursday despite widespread opposition. Let. Gen. (ret)
Hasnan Habib discusses the implications of the bill.

Question: Why is the Indonesian Military (TNI) so obsessed
with insisting that the House finalize the bill?

Answer: Because the bill, when passed into law, will be needed
to guide the authorities in overcoming social disturbances if any
occur during or after the coming General Session of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) -- the first part of the session is
scheduled to begin from Oct. 1 to Oct. 3 and will resume on Nov.
1 to Nov. 10. If we do not establish a new security law, we will
have to enforce the repressive 1959 law in a state of emergency.
The government was forced to implement the 1959 law in East Timor
because there was no alternative regulation.

Q: Critics fear that the bill, if enacted, would give TNI the
legitimacy to use force and other measures in a state of
emergency...

A: Many people say the bill, after revisions, will be more
democratic than the old law because a state of emergency will no
longer be determined only by the president but also by other
institutions, including the House.

Q: Are you saying that the House should finalize the bill this
week?

A: It's problematic. Because the current House members and the
present government lack legitimacy, I think they had better delay
the deliberation of the bill in order to give the next group of
House members and new government a chance to accommodate more
aspirations of the people. But any delay will force the
government to enforce the repressive 1959 law if social chaos
occurs.

Q: Does TNI believe that the current security situation may lead
to a state of emergency?

A: Actually, fears of the emergence of such a situation started a
month ago when TNI's chief of territorial affairs, Let. Gen.
Bambang Yudhoyono, said that the upcoming MPR General Session
would proceed according to one of three scenarios: It runs
smoothly, meets obstacles or triggers social conflicts and chaos
due to unresolved disputes among the political elite.

Since then, TNI has been making necessary preparations for the
worst possible scenario through such measures as preparing
facilities and appointing suitable personnel to strategic
positions.

Q: Has the security situation worsened since then? TNI's Deputy
Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. said recently that the current
situation was not conducive to holding the MPR session and TNI
Commander Gen. Wiranto has warned of possible social conflicts....

A: I think TNI has its reasons for concluding that the current
situation is not conducive for the General Session. Its
conclusion is supported by the facts. These include that the
appointment of group representatives for the MPR has encountered
various problems; the election winner, the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle, is beset by internal rifts; the ruling Golkar
Party is under strong pressure to revise its nomination of
incumbent President B.J. Habibie due to various scandals; the
nomination of Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Abdurrahman "Gus Dur"
Wahid as a presidential candidate from the "axis force" is still
unclear; that the Bank Bali scandal, allegedly involving several
government officials, has encouraged international creditors to
warn of halting aid to Indonesia; that chairman of the Supreme
Advisory Council A.A. Baramuli is accused of having a hand in
political irregularities and that violence in East Timor has
tarnished TNI's image.

Furthermore, TNI's failure to address mass killings in East
Java, religious conflicts in Maluku, the student shootings in
Jakarta and abduction of political activists have also produced
skepticism about its political will to take action against its
personnel. These facts are of extraordinary influence upon the
conclusion.

Q: Do you, based on your military intuition, personally consider
the present situation as not conductive to holding the General
Session?

A: I think no one dares say that the current situation is
conducive for the session. If we say that social unrest and chaos
might occur, I'm afraid that it will become a reality. But if we
say that the conditions are conducive to holding the session, I'm
afraid we will be negligent and we, therefore, will not be
prepared to face the worst.

We should remember that during the extraordinary General
Session of the MPR last November, social disturbances and the
shooting of demonstrators occurred only a few hours after Gen.
Wiranto guaranteed that Jakarta was safe and residents were free
to venture out for their personal needs. Now that Wiranto has
warned that prolonged disputes among the political elite were a
potential source of violence in the coming MPR General Session, I
can only hope that what occurs will be the reverse this time.

Q: Do you see any internal conflicts in TNI?

A: No. Differences of opinion exist in any organization,
including TNI. But differences of opinion in TNI thus far have
never prevented subordinates from obeying the instructions of
their superiors. As long as its leaders are upholding the 1945
Constitution and promoting the unity of the nation, their unity
will remain intact. If, suppose, Wiranto took steps to take over
power unconstitutionally, TNI would be split. All TNI leaders are
conscious of such a possibility.

Q: Is that why Wiranto is rumored to be planning to retire on
Oct. 5 to make himself available for a presidential nomination by
Golkar?

A: The rumor is based on speculation and TNI has denied it. (riz)