'TNI should not act like a loser'

'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