Time for TNI to consolidate, focus on its defense role

Time for TNI to consolidate, focus on its defense role

Imanuddin Razak, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

There will be no extraordinary activities to mark this year's
celebration of the 58th anniversary of the Indonesian Military
(TNI) on Sunday. The anniversary celebration will be held at the
Naval base in Surabaya, East Java, and will be the first time it
is held outside Jakarta.

Another difference from previous years is the inclusion of an
aerobatic show featuring the recently delivered Russian Sukhoi 27
and Sukhoi 30 jet fighters, and MI-35 assault helicopters.

The new equipment reinforces the public's expectations of a
professional military. Although the TNI still reflects concerns
that it should play a domestic defensive role, the police, in
accordance with its formal separation from the TNI in 2001 and as
stipulated in the law on the police, must be given a chance to
handle domestic security.

The purchase of the Russian warplanes was made following the
United States' military embargo on the country following the 1999
post-referendum violence in East Timor, and the rejection by the
U.S. government to lift the embargo following last year's lethal
ambush against American citizens in Timika, Papua province, in
which TNI members were allegedly involved.

The presence of the Sukhoi jet fighters -- which are equipped
with guided missiles and free-flight rockets to attack both land
and sea targets, and are capable of engaging the enemy
independently or in a fleet in any weather -- will at least be a
highlight of the anniversary celebration. It has been 6 years
since the TNI last purchased new, advanced-technology equipment.

The last purchase of such jet fighters was in 1989, when the
TNI bought 12 American-made F-16s, while the last purchase of
Naval warships was in 1994, when the country bought 39 warships
made in former East Germany.

The Army bought British-made Scorpion tanks in early 1995 and
British-made armored vehicles in early 1997, ahead of the general
elections.

The number of F-16 jet fighters does not meet the minimum
criteria for an Air Force squadron of 12 aircraft, as the Air
Force only has three flight-worthy planes, as the others are
either grounded or damaged. Meanwhile, most of the ex-East German
warships are not seaworthy due to their age and the lack of spare
parts, which are now obsolete.

Equipment aside, TNI marks this year with the end of its
active political role, namely in the legislature -- the House of
Representatives (DPR) and the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR). This is because at next year's general elections, the TNI
will not be granted "free" seats at either the House or the
Assembly, because of the new law on general elections.

Under this new law, all members of the two legislative bodies
will be elected through two channels -- the election of members
of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) at the provincial
level, who will form part of the MPR, and the national level
elections that will determine the House's composition, as well as
the remaining seats at the Assembly.

People still recall the TNI's historic decision during the MPR
Annual Session in August, when the military headquarters
announced its readiness to withdraw from the House and the
Assembly simultaneously in 2004, instead of the initially planned
gradual withdrawal from both legislative bodies by 2009.

On the other hand, however, the TNI will still play a role in
active politics in the executive branch of government, at least
through their retired officers, who still fill government posts
nationwide as governors, regents and mayors.

The status of the retired officers is unique, as in the eyes
of TNI Headquarters, they no longer belong to the Armed Forces
and are considered civilians. But, as many generals have said
throughout the course of world history, old soldiers never die,
only fade, and the retired, now civilian officers apparently
still have a personal relationship with the military headquarters
that took care of them during their active service.

In spite of the TNI's political precedent -- elaborated in the
dwi fungsi (dual function) doctrine -- the fact that its active
involvement in politics has been reduced by at least half with
its exit from the legislature, the TNI's 58th anniversary this
year should be used as an occasion for introspection and focusing
on its defense role.

The decision by the TNI Headquarters to procure a complete
squadron of Sukhois, and the Navy's decision to purchase two
submarines from South Korea to upgrade its fleet, should be used
as by the TNI to upgrade the skills of its troops to master the
sophisticated warplanes and submarines.

With its new "toys", the TNI should also gradually quit its
active involvement in politics, especially in the executive
branch, and focus on upgrading its defense capability to deter
foreign military threats.

Military sources said foreign aircraft have frequently
trespassed Indonesia's aerial territory, especially in the east,
and the country had lacked warplanes able to pursue and escort
them into international air space. They did not mention cases of
foreign warships trespassing into Indonesia's maritime territory.

One good example of the Air Force protecting the country's air
space occurred earlier this year on July 3, when two of
Indonesia's F-16 Fighting Falcons intercepted the U.S. Navy's F-
18 Hornets above Bawean island over the Java Sea.

With this year's anniversary we expect more success stories
from the TNI in the safeguarding of the sovereignty of the
country's territorial integrity.