TNI begins to reassess its role, plans action
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)