TNI joint chiefs of staff needs DPR approval
TNI joint chiefs of staff needs DPR approval
JAKARTA (JP): Representatives of most factions at the People's
Consultative Assembly have agreed on the formation of a joint
chiefs of staff of the Indonesia Military (TNI).
An Assembly ad hoc committee meeting charged with formulating
a decree on TNI/Police also proposed that the head of the chief
of staffs be approved by the House of Representatives.
"The head of the TNI joint chief of staff should be installed
by the President with the House's approval," Mutammimul Ula, who
chaired the ad hoc committee, said on Friday.
Mutammimul said the stipulation of House approval was aimed at
preventing fears that the president could use the military for
his or her own political interests.
He claimed that seven factions, including the TNI/Police
faction, out of the Assembly's 10, agreed with the need for the
House's approval for the installment of the head of the TNI chief
of staff.
"We hope the decree can be endorsed in the general session of
the Assembly in August," he said.
During the meeting there was also discussion that the joint
chief of staff be selected on a rotational basis from one of the
three forces -- the Navy, the Army and the Air Force.
The current law stipulates that the TNI chief or commander is
appointed by the president without House approval.
The current TNI chief is Adm. Widodo A.S.
Seats
On the question of TNI's presence in the Assembly, Mutammimul
said almost all factions during the meeting agreed that the TNI
should still be given seats, at least for five years after the
2004 general elections.
He said the TNI/Police faction had asked for seats since they
had relinquished their right to vote during the general
elections.
However some factions suggested that the police force be
allowed to vote in elections, but, like civil servants, officers
should resign if they wanted to be nominated in the election.
"There is the thinking that the police should be considered
separate from civilians," Mutammimul from the Reform faction
said.
He said others proposal discussed included the police force
being placed under the home affair's ministry and the TNI under
the coordination of the defense ministry.
Currently both are under the defense ministry.
TNI/Police faction, however, proposed the police be placed
directly under the president and function as a non-ministerial
institution.
Mutammimul also revealed that another faction had suggested
that the police be independent and be placed under a board of
commissioners, similar to the Japanese model.
Mutammimul said that majority of the factions agreed that the
police chief could be installed by the president without House
approval.
"About the police chief, there are no worries that he or she
will be used by the president for power or interest," he said.
On the role of the TNI in maintaining domestic security, some
factions suggested that TNI officers be used only in special
situations, such as riots, after a request from police. The
police would have the primary responsibility for maintaining
order.
Most factions, including TNI/Police, agreed that military
forces should only be used in domestic situations having been
instructed to by the government or local administration. (jun)