'They're OK, as long as they follow orders'

'They're OK, as long as they follow orders'

Although the government backed down from its demand to maintain
the Indonesian Military (TNI)'s territorial role -- as advised by
military analysts and human rights activists -- the new military
bill had nothing to say about the future of the territorial
command structure. The Jakarta Post asked some residents how they
felt about the physical presence of troops under a territorial
command.

Vinny Flaviana, 23, works for a private bank on Jl. Sudirman,
Central Jakarta. She lives with her family in Jatinegara, East
Jakarta:

The military should guard the country and not meddle in
politics. At least, most of them should. If some military people
have gained expertise in other fields, such as the economy, and
they want to get into politics, I think it's OK.

The military should be a power for defense. They should
strengthen their power -- not to attack, but to protect the
country.

District military commands (Kodim) and subdistrict military
commands (Koramil) are still necessary because Indonesia is very
big. However, they should remember that they are there to secure
the area, not to rule it.

Regional commands should be the legs and hands of the central
command and follow its orders.

Teddy, 53, sells mung bean and peanut porridge in Glodok
market, Central Jakarta. He lives with his family in Tomang, West
Jakarta:

It is not the right time to get the military out of the
regions. We need them, they give us a feeling of security. And,
in most cases, the sterner approach of the military is needed to
deal with hard-liners.

However, we don't want abusive soldiers. Military officers
need to have integrity in closely monitoring their soldiers in
the field. They should educate them so they don't arbitrarily
abuse their power.

--The Jakarta Post