TNI is not like Kumbokarno

TNI is not like Kumbokarno

From Rakyat Merdeka

I do not agree with the editorial of this newspaper and also a
number of letters to the editor that say the Indonesian Military
(TNI) is now sleeping like Kumbokarno, a character in the Indian
epic.

What has happened is that by virtue of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) Decree Nos. 6 and 7/2000, the TNI's
role is confined to state defense matters only. The TNI is no
longer allowed to handle domestic security matters unless there
is a request for help from the National Police to overcome
domestic security problems. As a result, all funds for domestic
security are channeled to the National Police.

The problem the country is facing now in terms of domestic
security is that, in general, our regional administrations are
still weak and do not have direct access to the regional police.
Before the regional police can take action, funds must first be
sent to them from the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta.
Unfortunately, it appears that the National Police prefer the
regional administrations to deal with their own security problems
so that the latter does not have to fork out the funds. As a
result, security problems in the regions cannot be properly
handled and riots can easily escalate in intensity.

In this context, the Sampit tragedy and many other bloody
incidents must be viewed as the consequence of the MPR decree
referred to earlier. The decree does not clearly stipulate the
roles of the TNI and the National Police. Besides, the decree is
yet to be followed up with legislation to serve as a legal
umbrella for regional administrations, regional police and also
the TNI.

In this respect, it is the TNI that must be pitied. It has
territorial command but is virtually paralyzed because all funds
for security are in the hands of the National Police. It is often
the case that the TNI must fork out their own money to fund their
activities of helping the police overcome security problems.
Strangely, the money is not always reimbursed. Instead the
National Police regards it its debt to the TNI. That's why,
defense minister Mahfud MD has put forward a controversial
suggestion that the MPR decree on the separation of the National
Police from the TNI should be reviewed. Unfortunately, the
Assembly speaker has flatly rejected this suggestion.

It is clear, therefore, that the TNI is not sleeping like
Kumbokarno, but it has been forced to sleep by the MPR through
its decree.

A. ZIDAN NOVANTO

Jakarta