'TNI may still guard vital places'

Yuni Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung

Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto clarified his statement over the military's plan to quit providing protection at several vital installations, saying soldiers may still do the task in the event of emergency.

"Should security concerns increase, (the companies) may ask the police for assistance. If (the security concerns) worsen, TNI might be asked for help," he told reporters here on Friday.

Endriartono had earlier said the withdrawal of troops was in line with the Law No. 3/2002 on state defense which stipulates that security is not part of the military's duties.

In response to Endriartono's proposal, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed his support for the police to take over the security jobs from the TNI.

National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar also said the police force was ready for the transfer of duty.

To date, there are some 2,100 military soldiers deployed at vital objects, or areas of great economic value, across the country.

Among the 16 vital installations currently guarded by the military are PT Freeport McMoran's gold and copper mine in Papua, PT Caltex oil and gas in Dumai, PT ExxonMobil in Aceh, all of which are managed/operated by private U.S. companies.

The presence of TNI soldiers at ExxonMobil and the state gas and oil firm PT Arun NGL Co. would be maintained due to the martial law status in Aceh.

Freeport has said that it paid TNI about US$5.6 million last year to protect its assets in Papua.

On Friday, Endriartono said the TNI would no longer protect the vital objects due to improving security conditions in Indonesia.

"In the past, there were continuing threats that forced TNI to guard the installations," he told reporters, adding the soldiers were conducting a state duty by guarding those sites.

Now that security has improved, the responsibility to provide security has returned to the management of the companies, Endriartono said.

"It's the company's obligation to protect itself. Don't build a company if you have no capability to guard the plant," he explained to the managers of the firms.

Endriartono said the military would focus on its professional development.

Police broke away from the TNI in 2000, and were supposed to be put in charge of internal security affairs.

There are around 125,000 police personnel, compared to TNI's 250,000.