Udayana Military HQs to be moved to West Timor

Udayana Military HQs to be moved to West Timor

Annastashya Emmanuelle and Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Kupang

The Indonesian Military (TNI) says it is planning to relocate
the Udayana Military Command from Bali to the East Nusa Tenggara
provincial capital of Kupang, West Timor, for border protection
reasons.

The 161 Wirasakti Kupang Military Commander, Col. Inf.
Moeswarno Moesanip, and East Nusa Tenggara Vice Governor Johanis
Pake Pani hailed the plan on Friday, saying that the planned
relocation was a good decision considering that East Nusa
Tenggara bordered newly independent East Timor and Australia.

"For the sake of national defense, I find it suitable for a
military command as a TNI strategic compartment to be established
in Kupang," Moesanip said in Kupang.

According to the vice governor's assessment, a stronger
military presence in West Timor was necessary to maintain
security along the border areas and create a feeling of safety
among the local people.

"At present, East Timor and Australia have yet to become a
threat, but in the future things may be different. Therefore a
sufficient strategy must be developed and the plan to relocate
Udayana Military Command to Kupang should win support from all
sides in West Timor," Johanis said.

Gen. Endriartono Sutarto -- President Megawati Soekarnoputri's
main candidate for the TNI's top post -- spoke about the military
headquarters' planned relocation during a fit and proper test at
the House of Representatives last week.

Military and defense analysts have criticized the plan, which
they said was a spontaneous reaction to East Timor's
independence.

Indonesian policymakers are advised to be mindful of the shift
in international approach regarding security issues which now
focus on increasing cooperation with neighbor countries.

"In contradiction with the Cold War era, there is a growing
tendency of countries to be interdependent and to enhance
cooperation to improve their own people's welfare," M. Rifqie
Muna, a defense and military observer from the Research Institute
for Democracy and Peace (RIDeP) told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Instead of moving the IX Udayana Military Command, which would
only harm the country's image, the TNI would be better off
solidifying its line of command which often overlaps.

"Having a well coordinated force would be far more effective
(in protecting the border) than moving the entire military
command to West Timor, especially when there is no urgency to do
so," he said.

TNI is especially sensitive when it comes to matters relating
to East Timor, particularly after the former Indonesian territory
voted for independence in a UN-sponsored ballot.

Under international scrutiny, Indonesia started its first ad
hoc tribunal to try those responsible for the atrocities in East
Timor, including military and police personnel.

After the bloody breakaway from Indonesia's 24-year
occupation, East Timor became formally independent on May 20, the
celebration of which was attended by President Megawati
Soekarnoputri despite legislators' disapproval.

President Xanana Gusmao, the country's first president, has
consistently sent out messages of reconciliation to Indonesia,
calling on both sides to look toward a harmonious future and not
to dwell on the past.