TNI's strategy

TNI's strategy

The Indonesian Military (TNI) is in full force in Maluku these
days and it does not seem to help the local population much.
Actually, the situation there is even worse than in Aceh where
they are not active. We wonder what would happen if TNI was back
there. Another civil war?

In May 1998, TNI (under the field command of a good -- yes,
they can be good! -- military member such as Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin)
needed one day to strongly intervene in a peaceful and clever
manner to secure Jakarta as one of the biggest cities of the
world. So what has TNI been doing for improving the situation in
Ambon, a small city? Well, nothing in my opinion. Who cares after
all? Members of the House of Representatives do not seem
interested in asking that question to Wiranto though hundreds of
people are murdered in the region in a civil war between
Christians and Muslims.

Indonesia was praised in the past for its religious harmony,
but all this achievement has now been wasted. Many people are
criticizing President Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur, and his team
for this, but are they controlling TNI and the police as it
should be their right? I don't think so.

Anyway, if I were in a position to advise the government, I
would not send TNI back to Aceh based on what is going on in
Maluku. Why would the result be different than Aceh? Where is the
guarantee that TNI will secure Aceh as it did in Jakarta in May
1998? Things have already gone too far. Does TNI need
instructions from Gus Dur to do its job in Maluku? No, of course
not. This should be the responsibility of Gen. Wiranto.

As a foreigner who has spent eight years in your country, I
have learned to appreciate it. I am going to leave with my family
next month, and I wish you all the best for the next 20 years ...
although I am more pessimistic about your future than most of
your well-paid and unnecessary political and economic experts
are.

As long as law enforcement remains weak, as long as the dual
function of TNI remains strong and as long as you do not change
your feudalistic-like system in society resulting in extremely
high violence (exploitation of the bottom by the top at all
levels of your civil society can only result in violence),
Indonesia will not sail in the right direction. The direction of
an open democracy giving the same opportunities to everybody is a
goal that although has progressed a lot since the mid-1930's,
even Western democracies have not reached yet.

YVAN MAGAIN

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