Underpaid troops stand guard for the country's unity, sovereignty

Lela E. Madjiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

All across the archipelago, troops share one major concern: poor welfare.

Soldiers are tasked with safeguarding the country's sovereignty with a salary of only Rp 798,000 (US$88.66) a month, which seems rather low as the price for a nation's sovereignty.

Such was the message conveyed to Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu during a tour to several provinces in eastern Indonesia from Dec. 22 to Dec. 25.

In Ternate, North Maluku, for example, troops lamented their wages, which are nowhere near the minimum requirement, as the cost of living there is three to four times higher than in other provinces, like Java.

"It's the government's responsibility to provide for the troops. Mine is to train them and prepare them for their tasks," said Ryamizard.

Poor welfare is the reason why the Army chief makes it a priority to visit his troops, particularly those stationed in conflict areas, so that he may boost their morale.

"I'm proud of you for carrying out your tasks despite the shortages. Yours is a noble task, to stand guard of the nation and its people. Keep up your spirit. Without a good fighting spirit, even the best equipment and salaries would mean nothing," he told his soldiers.

Indeed, morale is low among troops who have been on duty for more than six months; so much so, that one battalion commander asked when they could return home.

His question set off high-ranking officers in Ryamizard's entourage into a rage.

"I would have fired him for asking such a question. A soldier never asks when he can go home," one major-general told The Jakarta Post.

An Army colonel, however, said the Indonesian Military (TNI) was to blame for pushing troops to their limits.

"If they were stationed in the jungle, they could have survived even without pay. They could have eaten anything they could find in the forest, but not in a city like Ternate, where they have to buy their daily needs at prices three times they can afford with their normal wages. This opens the opportunity for violations, from the innocent act of asking for food from residents, to theft and robbery," the colonel argued.

Ryamizard's presence was a consolation to the underpaid and poorly equipped soldiers, whose tours may be extended beyond their initial order.

A Kostrad (Army Strategic Reserve Command) battalion in Ambon, for example, has served in the area for nine months.

"They were told they would be there for a month, but now it's been nine months already," said Ryamizard.

Nine months is a relatively short period, as many soldiers serve in one area for years without any hope of rotation.

"I've been here for 10 years and have so far gone home to Java only once," said a soldier in Sorong. He said the high cost of travel expenses prevent him from visiting his hometown more often.

"A return trip to Java by ship costs Rp 2 million ($222), and with my wife that means Rp 4 million. I don't have that kind of money," he added.

The Army, he said, does not provide housing so he has to rent a one-bedroom house at Rp 200,000 ($22) a month.

"I could have started a savings if only the Army had provided us with houses," he said.

Soldiers welcomed Ryamizard's presence and used the opportunity to voice their concerns, from poor welfare to requests for a meeting hall.

"This is quite good, a meeting hall with natural ventilation," said Ryamizard, glancing around at the makeshift "meeting room" at the 752nd Infantry Battalion in Sorong, Papua, which is actually an open barn that also serves as a multi-function hall for the troops' wives.

Ryamizard was calculating in his head: The Army has around 100 battalions and if all of them make similar requests, where would he get the money from?

"There are 100 battalions and we have to make priorities. I will try to meet your request, but given our financial condition, maybe I can give you one out of your 10 requests," he said to the cheers of his soldiers.

Meanwhile, Ryamizard's assistants were busy taking notes, making calculations and racking their brains for a solution, a miracle perhaps, to meet the demands of their troops.