Toward a professional TNI

Military Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto made an encouraging statement the other day while overseeing preparations for Sunday's celebrations of the 58th anniversary of the Indonesian Military (TNI), which will be held in Surabaya.

Addressing not only his soldiers but the whole nation as well, Gen. Endriartono emphasized the role of the military in defending the country. The TNI, he said, should be politically impartial and not side with any political power or interest.

He also appealed to all parties concerned not to drag the military back into politics, as was the practice in the past. The military, he said, needed to focus on reform and not let itself be drawn into the political power struggle in the run-up to next year's general election.

Gen. Endriartono's appeal is timely for several reasons.

First, what is at present known as the Tentara Nasional Indonesia has in the last few years seemingly been wavering. Not long after the downfall of Soeharto, the leadership of the TNI expressed its commitment to reform and reorganizing its ranks. A decree issued by the People's Consultative Assembly in 2000 left the TNI with only three services: the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. The National Police, which during the New Order administration was incorporated into the Armed Forces (ABRI), was separated from the TNI. Another decree issued the same year laid out the principles in realigning its defense priorities.

Basically, the reform agenda envisages a gradual exit from the military's long-held sociopolitical role in the running of the country and refocuses on transforming itself into a more professional, modern military power. This would entail forfeiting its nonelected seats in the House of Representatives (DPR) and the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). It also calls for the dismantling of the military territorial network, with commands all the way down to the district level.

The process started well enough with the restructuring of the military headquarters by abolishing its sociopolitical section and territorial section. It responded to a historical challenge in the correct manner, resisting then president Abdurrahman Wahid's undemocratic intention to declare a state of emergency in order to preserve his power.

Later on, however, the TNI seemed to be stalling in its reform agenda. The forfeiting of the appointed legislative seats was deferred. The dismantling of its territorial network came to a stop, to say the least. And its white paper on defense earlier this year raised lots of questions as to whether the TNI was really serious about its commitment to reform. Endriartono's statement in Surabaya, though, can be seen as a signal that the TNI is returning to the genuine track of reform.

Second, the political scene these last few months has been growing more competitive for those aspiring to be elected next year to a new government and totally new legislative bodies on the national level down to the district level.

Disappointment with the course of economic and political reform, rampant corruption at all levels, even in the judicial system, growing unemployment and poverty, contribute to the people's increasing distrust of politicians, political parties, the bureaucracy and almost everything else that is perceived as powerful or holding power in whatever degree.

Thus poll after poll has showed the trend of decreasing support for almost everybody and every political party that is perceived as an aspirant in next year's general election.

Even more worrying, there has been a growing sense among the public that the old days of authoritarian rule under Soeharto were much better. Consequently, the temptation is increasing to look toward the military to solve this current multidimensional crisis.

By his appeal to all parties not to drag the TNI back into politics, Endriartono has correctly addressed this issue. In his own way, he was presumably addressing other military generals, including retired ones.

The TNI is currently facing crucial changes as it strives to formulate its role and mission in a democratic Indonesia. This country can ill afford the TNI being distracted from its commitment to be impartial politically, so that it can grow into a professional military power, capable of defending the country and maintaining security. That capability will be badly needed during next year's general and presidential elections, which will be held over a six-month period.