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.