'TNI should not act like a loser'
Military observers have repeatedly expressed concern over the Indonesian Military's (TNI) territorial role, which they said would lead to a repeat of intimidation that occurred in the past. Despite the long deliberation on this particular issue, the newly endorsed military bill doesn't say much about the current structure of military offices in the regions. The Jakarta Post asked some residents about their opinion on the issue.
Mario, 23, is a waiter at a hotel restaurant on Jl. Sudirman. He lives with his brother in a rented house in Senen, Central Jakarta:
I don't really care whether it is the military or the police that takes care of security, as long as we can all feel safe and can work peacefully.
I work in the tourism sector, so I know how important the issue of security is.
But I think the police should have the most responsibility, because it is their main duty. The military, meanwhile, should just be defending and guarding the country.
The military can have their territorial command structure if it is needed for their duty, but it should not be misused for politics like in the past, and its presence should not be so authoritative.
I can still remember those intimidating traffic signs warning motorists to slow down just because they are passing by a military installation.
Dito, 20, is a student of an economics school on Jl. Kramat Raya, Central Jakarta. He lives with his family in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta:
The military should just go back to their barracks, and their territorial command structure be scrapped altogether.
They should no longer be involved in politics and run business empires of their own. Their sole duty now is guarding the country.
They should hand over all security duties to the police, and not act like a sore loser who has been stripped of their powers, and then wage a secret rivalry with the police, which would just disrupt the whole nation.
Many have also questioned why we as an archipelagic country should have such a strong presence of the army -- the navy and the air force should be the superiors. Even if we have an army, it should be more like the marine corps.
--The Jakarta Post