TNI blasted over commercial interests
TNI blasted over commercial interests
JAKARTA (JP): Experts and activists strongly criticized the
Indonesian Military (TNI) for alleged unaccountable profits
gained from commercial activities in the private sector and
called for a transparent account of the matter.
"Never in history has the military been willing to be straight
with the public on its financial resources, apart from the
official state budget," said political analyst Indria Samego of
the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).
"Why? It's due to the past New Order political culture. From
the very beginning the military has been given a portion of
business. Now, who dares (query it)? Even taxation officials
can't check on the Yayasan Baret Merah (Red Beret Corps
Foundation) or any other military-related foundations," Indria
said.
Political analyst J. Kristiadi of the Centre for Strategic and
International Studies said that in order to become completely
professional, the TNI must withdraw from business.
"This may sound impossible but the military has to return to
its original function, which is to defend the country and to
master warfare," Kristiadi said, adding that a case of alleged
graft at the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) Foundation
was only the tip of the iceberg and that TNI would not want its
Kostrad commander to be tried for such a case.
He further said that TNI's excuse that it was conducting
business to augment the limited budget the state allocates to it
was untrue as in reality only the military elite enjoy the luxury
and profit from these businesses.
"It has been known for some time that once a military member
gets a star (becomes a general), they begin to gain privileges.
While thousands of other troops are living in poverty at modest
barracks," Kristiadi said.
Munir, head of the executive board of the Commission for
Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) pointed out
that a large military-linked foundation like Kartika Eka Paksi
allegedly has 26 other companies dealing in a variety of
businesses, ranging from shrimp and electronics.
"The Inkopad (the Army's Cooperative Center) allegedly has 12
affiliated companies. The Air Force, the Navy and the police are
also more or less the same. The Red Beret Corps Foundation even
joined training held by Ikadin on how to master business," Munir
said.
Munir claimed that some of the profits from these funds were
also financing military operations.
The structure of the military hierarchy command must be
removed from business, he said.
The Indonesian Corruption Watch's (ICW) Agam Fatchurrochman
further suggested the funds gained from the private sector by the
military be inserted into the state budget.
"The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) has to audit all funds managed
by the Ministry of Defense and the Indonesian Military
Headquarters to make the usage of the funds clear and make
proposals".(edt)