TNI's territorial function needs review: Legislators

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.