'TNI's growing confidence' becomes apparent: Analyst

'TNI's growing confidence' becomes apparent: Analyst

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has regained its confidence and
is gradually assuming a greater role in politics after four years
of retreat, a political analyst warned on Sunday.

Arief Budiman, a government critic who is now teaching at the
University of Melbourne, said the growing confidence had become
apparent due to the public's recognition of TNI's indispensable
role in maintaining security and order, despite its blind
allegiance to the New Order regime's alleged involvement in
numerous human rights abuses in the past.

"Since 1998 TNI has taken a low profile and stayed out of
politics, but it has grown with confidence now that the civilian
government remains weak and cannot dispense with the military's
role," said Arief, a former student activist and lecturer at
Satya Wacana University in Salatiga, Central Java.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri seemed to be more comfortable
dealing directly with the TNI currently, than with Muslim parties
or groups, or even with the former ruling Golkar Party, Arief
added.

The global war against terrorism waged by the United States
had also helped TNI to regain ground, according to Arief.

"The U.S. intention to resume military ties with Indonesia,
regardless of the motives, has at least contributed to TNI's
self-confidence building to revive its political role," he said,
as quoted by Antara.

In a discussion in Jakarta last Thursday, U.S. Ambassador to
Indonesia Ralph Boyce, in response to a question on whether the
U.S. was interested in resuming military ties with the TNI,
answered with a robust, "yes".

"But I am hopeful, and I believe, that the ongoing reforms in
the TNI, particularly the current ad hoc tribunal process, a test
of whether those who are accountable for the atrocities in East
Timor in September 1999 will be held accountable, has tremendous
promise for unlocking a more normal U.S. approach to its
relations with the TNI," Boyce told a discussion on the war
against terrorism.

The reform movement, which followed the fall of long-time
ruler Soeharto in May 1998, turned the country's political system
around to democracy, at the expense of TNI's long-standing
sociopolitical role. The military seats in the House of
Representatives will be vacated after the 2004 elections,
followed by its seats in the People's Consultative Assembly after
2009.

The TNI has claimed to be carrying out internal reform,
although it refused to withdraw its troops to barracks
immediately.

Arief said TNI displayed its past confidence when it appointed
Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin as its spokesman. Sjafrie was the
Jakarta Military Commander during the bloody riots and rapes in
May 1998 here.

Not a single civilian, TNI member or police officer has ever
been tried for the May 1998 mass riots, which preceded Soeharto's
downfall. Sjafrie was replaced by Maj. Gen. Djaja Suparman two
months after the riots and had his career on hold until his
appointment as TNI spokesman in February this year.

Arief suggested that the general public remain vigilant of the
possibility of TNI making a comeback.

"Demands for the TNI to play its role are increasingly
becoming louder ... but it cannot play its role (political or
social) as openly as it had done during the Soeharto era," Arief
said.

He also noted that the legal process, in connection with the
alleged involvement of TNI members in the murder of Papuan
proindependence leader Theys Hiyo Eluay last November, still
needed to be closely monitored by the general public.