Upholding dignity

Upholding dignity

From Rakyat Merdeka

The Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) report to the military
police about alleged bribery of Lt. Gen. Andi M. Ghalib, the
attorney general, is not a purely legal matter. It should be
viewed as an effort by the community to help establish the
dignity of the Indonesian Military (TNI). It is similar to the
accusations of members of the Yogyakarta community against the
Bantul regent a few years ago in the case of journalist Udin's
death. Both Ghalib and the regent are TNI officers assigned in
civilian postings. Both were reported for alleged misuse of state
funds which, inevitably, affects the public.

At the time, TNI did not pay much attention to the case of the
regent because it considered it an administrative and legal case.
Then, reformist students occupied the regent's office. The regent
was subsequently dismissed. According to TNI, officers assigned
to civilian postings are only the best of their kind. It means
that they are the symbol of TNI's dignity. Besides, in the "eight
pledges of tour of duty" of the military, it is mentioned that "a
TNI soldier should never harm and hurt the people's hearts"
(numbers seven and eight).

With proof apparently supporting the allegations, the Ghalib
case is a test for the new TNI, especially concerning the values
of dignity of TNI as a condition to gain the trust of the public
at this time of a crisis of confidence in the national
leadership.

I do not know whether Ghalib is a retired officer or not. My
recommendation is that if he is a retired officer, the military
police should reject the ICW report. TNI should state that Ghalib
is no longer a TNI member so that whatever he does will not
damage the TNI's dignity. If he is not a retired officer, he must
be withdrawn whether he is right or wrong. It is to boost the
image of the TNI. The community and the nation are still in great
of need of a respected and trusted member of TNI.

ROCH BASOEKI MANGOENPOEROJO

Jakarta