TNI accused of imposing martial law 'by stealth' in Maluku

TNI accused of imposing martial law 'by stealth' in Maluku

Yogita Tahilramani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The appointment of Maj. Gen. Djoko Santoso to lead security
restoration operations in the troubled Maluku province points to
clear domination of the military there and a tactful admission by
the Indonesian Military (TNI) that it will not submit to orders
issued by the police or civilians, including Governor Saleh
Latuconsina, a sociologist said on Wednesday.

Thamrin Amal Tomagola of the University of Indonesia said that
Djoko's appointment as commander of the security restoration
operations, aside from heading the Pattimura Regional Military
Command in Maluku, indicated that with skillful engineering, the
TNI had managed to impose martial law by stealth. This followed
the restructuring of security authorities in which the TNI has
been assigned by the Indonesian government to lead the day-to-day
security operations in Maluku.

"TNI wanted to impose martial law but since this was strongly
rejected by the Ambonese public and legislators, they engineered
the situation in such a way that the TNI instead set up a new
security command body ... even if it is a civil emergency status
there, it is in now in effect martial law," Thamrin told The
Jakarta Post over the phone from Bali.

He said that the appointment of a military general to lead the
new security command was in contradiction with the law.

Similarly, human rights activist Munir said on Wednesday that
the formation of a new security command in Maluku, goes against
all existing regulations, including Law No. 23/1959 on the state
of emergency, which clearly stipulates that police are the front-
line authority during a civil emergency status.

Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno firmly denied on
Wednesday that the government's decision had in turn allowed the
TNI to impose martial law by stealth.

According to MPR Decree No. 7 on the role of the Indonesian
Military and the National Police, the police are in charge of
security, while the military is in charge of defense matters and,
when necessary, will back up the police.

Thamrin, however, doubted that the TNI would comply with the
instructions issued by the Maluku civil emergency authorities.

"The main problem ... that the TNI will not bow before the
governor's orders or instructions, remains. Even though (Army
chief) Gen. Endriartono Sutarto gave his word that TNI will
follow orders issued by Governor Latuconsina, I seriously doubt
it. When a military brigadier general did not follow the
governor's orders, why should a major general do so?" Thamrin
asserted.

Thamrin advised that Governor Latuconsina refrain from issuing
orders behind doors in closed meetings with local military and
police chiefs, and should instead make his orders known to the
legislators and the general public.

"This way ... he will not be made a pawn by military or police
chiefs. He instead should lobby for support from legislators and
the general public by first making public all orders he issues,"
Thamrin said.

Djoko was appointed on Tuesday to lead the security
restoration operations and head the Pattimura Regional Military
Command in Maluku. He replaced Brig. Gen. Mustopo as the
Pattimura Regional Military Commander, who will be transferred to
another post at Army Headquarters.

Separately, the National Police insisted on Wednesday that the
appointment of a military general did not render the police
"inferior".

"The National Police were involved in the making of this
decision in meetings led by Coordinating Minister for Political
and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. It was a necessary
security measure. The police and the military will try to restore
security in Maluku at any cost and if the command is being led by
a military general ... then the police too are not that
inflexible that they cannot accommodate such a decision,"
National Police deputy spokesman Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang told
the Post on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Saleh Saaf
added that there was a "50-50 chance" that Maluku Police chief
Brig. Gen. Soenarko would be replaced as well in the coming days.