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.