Soldiers complain of declining role
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post/Medan
Under scorching midday sun, Chief Sgt. Abdul Manaf steered left his motorcycle entering the compound of the East Medan district military command. Parked his motorcycle, he then took his rest in the guard post. While watching television, Abdul Manaf, the non- commissioned officer assigned to the subdistrict, was seen talking to others through a walkie-talkie.
The 46-year-old soldier said he was facing tougher tasks since the Bali blast last Saturday. Since the blast, he had been asked by his superior to intensify monitoring security in the subdistrict on fears of another terrorist attack. The task was tough as the number of non-commissioned officers , popularly called Babinsa, like Abdul Manaf, is limited.
One Babinsa is ideally assigned to monitor security in a single subdistrict, but in East Medan district military command, 13 Babinsa have to monitor security in 20 subdistricts. Abdul Manaf himself monitors security in two subdistricts, namely Pulo Brayan Darat I and II subdistricts.
Abdul Manaf said the job was tough. Besides monitoring security, Babinsa were also tasked with quickly reporting to the military district command on any social upheaval, to assure security in their respective territories, to mobilize people and to communicate with them.
"When there is social upheaval, the Babinsa has to figure out the way to prevent the conflict from escalating," he said.
In order to get information and get closer to people, Abdul Manaf said he had to mingle with people from all walks of life. Information could be obtained anywhere, including in coffee shops, he said. In 12 years he had been in the security business, Manaf recalled he had never encountered any big upheavals. But he admitted the role of Babinsa had been on the decline since the Indonesian military started its internal reforms in 1999.
After the reform, police took over the role of Babinsa and Babinsa reduced their presence in the community. People themselves had been aware that the role of Babinsa had been curtailed and they tended to report to police in the event of conflict.
The declining role of Babinsa prevented them from contributing into the arrests of terrorists. Manaf himself supported the President's call in ordering the TNI, including Babinsa, to help track down terrorists. However, the Babinsa had found obstacles in carrying out the order. "Since the TNI started internal reform, the authority to hold people lay in the hands of police. It hampers us in combating terrorists," said Manaf.