TNI and civilian supremacy

I refer to the article in The Jakarta Post on October 4, page 2, titled TNI still unwilling to accept civilian supremacy: Observers. The article introduces the arguments of a non military observer, Ikrar Nusa Bhakti from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI). He suggests that the Indonesian Military (TNI) fails to respect civilian leadership and as such, has "remained unwilling to be subordinate to the civilian-run Ministry of Defense". The article says, that "the public has demanded that the Indonesian military be placed under the Ministry of Defense to ensure civilian supremacy, a prerequisite for democracy".

It goes on to say that this demand "has met stiff resistance from the military and resulted in the issuance of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Decree No. 7/2000 which placed the military under the direct supervision of the President". However since the President is officially not a member of the military and is a civilian, the military are under civilian leadership.

Ikar's suggestion that the TNI has no respect for civilian leaders is fanciful. In the daily newspaper Kompas on Oct. 4, 2003 the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs stated clearly that whatever political decision is made by the government, the "TNI must obey accordingly". This is surely civilian leadership.

I find it hard to believe that Ikar is unaware of Article 10 of our 1945 Constitution, stating that the President holds the highest power over the army, navy and air force. So why should the MPR find it necessary to issue decree No. 7/2000? If Ikrar can provide an example to substantiate his findings -- that the TNI is unwilling to listen to civilians -- this can only benefit the TNI. This could be a valuable lesson for the TNI in this reform era.

What surprises me is Kusnanto's -- a researcher with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies -- statement that the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) must involve non-military representatives in the drafting of TNI related bills, to ensure that democratic values are preserved. In fact, all bills are drafted according to the Constitution, created by the government and the DPR and not by the military (article 20 and 21 of Constitution). No bill is passed until it is agreed upon by both sides.

SOEGIH ARTO Jakarta