TNI's territorial function needs review: Legislators

By Ridwan M. Sijabat

JAKARTA (JP): Legislators and observers are calling for a complete transformation of the Army's territorial function, which they say has aggravated political and security instability nationwide.

Aberson Marle Sihaloho, an outspoken legislator from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), told The Jakarta Post that the long series of violent incidents which had swept the country had a lot to do with the uncompleted state of internal reform in the military, especially the powerful Army.

"Despite the military's withdrawal from day-to-day politics and the bureaucracy, the presence of military commands, districts and soldiers in rural and remote areas remains a serious obstacle to civilian rule," he said.

"The riots and social conflicts in many regions have been linked to these military units".

Aberson alleged that there should be a strong suspicion of Army involvement in most of the riots that have broken out since former president Soeharto stepped down on May 21, 1998.

He suspected the Rp 1.4 trillion distributed by former president Soeharto to various military commands on May 5, 1998, may have been misused to create chaos.

"So far, the funds have never been accounted for," he added.

Aberson said the Army's territorial function, including the presence of military commands and districts, should be phased out because it was no longer relevant to the reform era and the geopolitical situation.

"To be consistent with the Indonesian Military's defense function, the Navy and the Air Force should stand at the front line to face threats from outside the country because, naturally, threats will come from the sea and air," he said.

Arifin Panigoro, chairman of the PDI Perjuangan faction at the House of Representatives, agreed, saying police should be the ones responsible for maintaining security and order.

"The military is no longer in charge of security at home. It should mainly focus on its defense function. Thus military commands and districts are no longer needed in connection with the defense function," he said.

He also suggested that the Army's lower-ranking infantry soldiers, whose number reach an estimated 270,000, be transferred to the National Police force to strengthen it in its duties.

He also encouraged senior generals who were seen to support the former New Order regime to retire ahead of their mandatory retirement age.

"Such a policy was made by the United States government regarding its National Guards after the Vietnam war," he claimed.

Achmad Faqih, secretary of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction said his faction had proposed military reform to the House leadership.

"Our faction has lobbied other factions to make the military's internal reform the House's main agenda," he said.

Meanwhile, military observer Salim Said called on the House to issue a national decision on the military's functions and position in the political system.

"A new law is needed to replace the current ones on the defense system and military doctrine, in order to describe the military's position and its relations with other organizations and state institutions," he said.

Salim said he would agree to a gradual phasing out of the military commands and districts to allow TNI make necessary adjustments.

"The presence of military subdistricts in Jakarta and other big cities may be no longer needed, but their presence in rural and remote areas should remain to help police maintain order and security," he said.

Said also said the military -- TNI Headquarters, the Army, Navy and Air Force -- should be audited annually by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), and the promotion of middle and high-ranking officers should be dependent on approval from the House and the government.

"The House could then control the TNI through its budgeting and the promotion of officials to strategic positions in the military," he said.

Indria Samego, a political observer from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), said it was crucial that the military pulled out from politics and businesses if it was to focus on its main defense function.

"The military's involvement in politics and businesses has indirectly weakened the civilian government," Indria contended.

"Changes will be made if the military commands and military districts are phased out and servicemen are barred from running businesses," he said.

Harold Crouch, an Australian Indonesianist, said during an international seminar on the military here recently that all military commands and military districts should be phased out because its territorial function had given the military considerable capacity to intervene in local politics under the guise of maintaining stability.

He said in the past Soeharto used the military's territorial network to manipulate civilian organizations and repress potential opposition.