'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.