TNI to keep local role: Minister
TNI to keep local role: Minister
M. Taufiqurrahman and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Although the government backed down from its demand that the
Indonesian Military (TNI)'s territorial role be reintroduced in
the new military bill, the physical presence of soldiers under a
territorial command in the regions is likely to continue, the top
security minister said.
Interim coordinating minister for political and security
affairs Hari Sabarno said on Wednesday the territorial command
would be maintained to boost the country's defenses and protect
its territorial integrity.
"If the defense ministry decides on recruiting volunteers for
military service, this territorial command will serve as a means
to train such reserves," Hari said after a House of
Representatives plenary session to endorse a bill amending the
current autonomy laws.
He said priority would be given to regions that were prone to
conflict and at danger of incursions by foreign powers. "The
priority will be given to regions that need the presence of
troops down to the lowest level."
Hari said there was no stipulation in the bill that touched on
the dissolution of the territorial command.
"What matters is not its name but its role in defending the
country," he said.
The territorial commands are not mentioned explicitly in the
bill; articles on the army, navy and air force only say that each
unit supports the TNI's task in strengthening its capacities.
Military analysts and nongovernmental organizations had
expressed concern over the issue, and said the decision to
maintain the military's "territorial role" would lead to a repeat
of the intimidation that occurred in the past.
During the three decades of former president Soeharto's
ironfisted rule, the military's territorial role was abused to
coerce the people into supporting the government.
Legislator Happy Bone Zulkarnaen of Golkar acknowledged that
the current structure of military offices in the regions would be
maintained. However, the function of the regional military
offices will be modified, he said.
Happy said the regional military offices -- including Regional
Military Commands (Kodam) in some provinces, Resort Military
Commands (Korem) in some strategic cities and District Military
Commands (Kodim) in the regencies -- were in the past used to
force the government's wishes on the people.
"In the future, those offices will be used to empower the
defense forces. The philosophy is different," he said.
The military bill stipulates that the TNI's main duty is to
fight wars and engage in military operations other than war,
including fighting separatist rebels and terrorists, guarding
border areas and vital objects, as well as engaging in
humanitarian operations.
National Awakening Party (PKB) legislator Effendi Choirie said
on Wednesday that technically, the future of the regional
military offices would be decided by the president, with approval
of the House of Representatives.
Pataniari Siahaan of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI-P) said military offices in the regions would
focus on guarding border areas, conflict-prone areas and
resource-rich areas.
M. Taufiqurrahman and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Although the government backed down from its demand that the
Indonesian Military (TNI)'s territorial role be reintroduced in
the new military bill, the physical presence of soldiers under a
territorial command in the regions is likely to continue, the top
security minister said.
Interim coordinating minister for political and security
affairs Hari Sabarno said on Wednesday the territorial command
would be maintained to boost the country's defenses and protect
its territorial integrity.
"If the defense ministry decides on recruiting volunteers for
military service, this territorial command will serve as a means
to train such reserves," Hari said after a House of
Representatives plenary session to endorse a bill amending the
current autonomy laws.
He said priority would be given to regions that were prone to
conflict and at danger of incursions by foreign powers. "The
priority will be given to regions that need the presence of
troops down to the lowest level."
Hari said there was no stipulation in the bill that touched on
the dissolution of the territorial command.
"What matters is not its name but its role in defending the
country," he said.
The territorial commands are not mentioned explicitly in the
bill; articles on the army, navy and air force only say that each
unit supports the TNI's task in strengthening its capacities.
Military analysts and nongovernmental organizations had
expressed concern over the issue, and said the decision to
maintain the military's "territorial role" would lead to a repeat
of the intimidation that occurred in the past.
During the three decades of former president Soeharto's
ironfisted rule, the military's territorial role was abused to
coerce the people into supporting the government.
Legislator Happy Bone Zulkarnaen of Golkar acknowledged that
the current structure of military offices in the regions would be
maintained. However, the function of the regional military
offices will be modified, he said.
Happy said the regional military offices -- including Regional
Military Commands (Kodam) in some provinces, Resort Military
Commands (Korem) in some strategic cities and District Military
Commands (Kodim) in the regencies -- were in the past used to
force the government's wishes on the people.
"In the future, those offices will be used to empower the
defense forces. The philosophy is different," he said.
The military bill stipulates that the TNI's main duty is to
fight wars and engage in military operations other than war,
including fighting separatist rebels and terrorists, guarding
border areas and vital objects, as well as engaging in
humanitarian operations.
National Awakening Party (PKB) legislator Effendi Choirie said
on Wednesday that technically, the future of the regional
military offices would be decided by the president, with approval
of the House of Representatives.
Pataniari Siahaan of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI-P) said military offices in the regions would
focus on guarding border areas, conflict-prone areas and
resource-rich areas.