TNI begins to reassess its role, plans action

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Military (TNI) began on Wednesday a two-day leadership meeting focused on examining the military's new role in the wake of massive public demands to forgo its sociopolitical function.

TNI chief Adm. Widodo A.S. in his opening address to the meeting admitted that in the past there had been an abuse of TNI's sociopolitical functions which had distorted the true identity of the military.

"The sociopolitical function of TNI was misused in the past, which bent our efforts to become true national soldiers," Widodo said.

He also reasserted that TNI should now focus its duties on being the nation's defender and should no longer be solely responsible for internal security matters, which is the task of the National Police.

Meanwhile, TNI spokesman Rear Adm. Graito Usodo told The Jakarta Post that the meeting was formulating the main duties of TNI in this new paradigm which would eliminate all sociopolitical functions and focus primarily on the national defense role.

"In the meeting we talked about leaving all our sociopolitical functions ... However the biggest issue is to formulate the new duties of TNI in the future," Graito said.

He explained that as part of the withdrawal from its sociopolitical functions there was the commitment to vacate all legislative seats in 2004 and a commitment by all TNI officers to leave active duty service if they took up a civilian post.

Graito said many nonmilitary figures had been invited to provide their views during the meeting, among them Minister of Finance Bambang Sudibyo and Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono.

"We will also formulate a priority scale due to the cuts in our budget. We must plan for efficiency so we can keep our operational readiness in accordance with the recent budget," he said during a telephone interview.

Graito declined to elaborate more on the new formulations being discussed as the TNI chief is due to announce the complete results of the meeting on Thursday.

Wednesday's meeting was attended by 146 high-ranking officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force.

President Abdurrahman Wahid is scheduled to meet with participants in the meeting on Thursday at the presidential palace. (dja)