U.S wants TNI under civilian control

U.S wants TNI under civilian control

JAKARTA (JP): The United States wants to see the Indonesian
Military (TNI) under the control of a civilian government,
visiting U.S. Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen said on
Thursday.

"We hope that the military would, in fact, be subordinate and
subject to the governance and rule of civilian officers," Cohen
told a media conference at the end of a one-day visit devoted
mainly to East Timor and Indonesia's process of democratization.

Cohen held the media conference after meeting separately with
President B.J. Habibie, Minister of Defense and
Security/Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Wiranto, acting
Minister of Foreign Affairs Feisal Tanjung, National Commission
on Human Rights chairman Marzuki Darusman and Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) chairwoman Megawati
Soekarnoputri.

"There is a deep and heart-felt desire on the part of the
Indonesian people to make sure that the military does in fact
abide by civilian rule.

"It is up to the Indonesian people to make that determination.
I think what the rest of the world would like to see is whether
or not there is a genuine commitment to achieve reform in a sense
of subordinating the military to civilian control," Cohen said.

Cohen said Habibie assured him of his determination to lead
Indonesia successfully toward democracy.

In his meeting with Wiranto, Cohen highlighted the important
role TNI had to play in the country's democratization. He said
TNI could make a vital contribution to Indonesia's transition to
democracy by reforming itself and concentrating on its primary
role of national defense.

He said he made it clear during his meeting with Gen. Wiranto
that the U.S. would not consider restoring military ties with
Indonesia until TNI reformed.

"TNI must show restraint and respect for human rights
throughout the country. It must be clear the military operates
under civilian control," he said in a statement made available to
the media after his meeting with Wiranto.

As he traveled to Jakarta on Wednesday, Cohen also warned that
Indonesia risked political isolation and economic punishment if
it did not shackle the military and further the process of
democratization in the country.

Cohen regretted that certain elements of the military were
involved in the violence in East timor.

"I told Gen. Wiranto that the military is at a critical
turning point and should choose to further democracy .... If on
the other hand they permit or participate openly or behind the
scenes in further aiding and abetting violence in East Timor,
they will do severe damage to the country."

Cohen said he received assurances from TNI that it would
support the government's policy on East Timor, contribute to a
peaceful solution in the territory and investigate and punish
military personnel guilty of improper behavior.

He added that everyone would be watching to see whether
individuals who were involved in aggravated assaults, killings
and other types of inexcusable and shameful behavior were dealt
with in a timely manner.

Cohen pledged the United States would enthusiastically support
Indonesia through the difficult challenges of economic
restructuring and institution building if the military helped
restore order in East Timor and stepped up its transformation
toward democracy.

Substance

However, TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sudrajat, who accompanied
Wiranto to the meeting, denied the substance of Cohen's press
statement, saying that not all the warnings and messages
contained in it were voiced at the meeting.

"It is not true. It's not true. At the meeting Cohen posed no
threats, either to the government or the military, and did not
set any conditions for normalizing frozen military cooperation
between the two countries."

Sudrajat said that in the meeting, Cohen praised the country's
transition to democracy and the gradual reform of the military.

He said Gen. Wiranto convinced Cohen there would be no
military junta or militaristic ruler in the country's future, and
that TNI would maintain its neutrality in dealing with political
parties and would encourage the development of democracy in the
country.

Gen. Wiranto also assured Cohen that TNI would help East
Timorese refugees in East Nusa Tenggara return to their homeland.

"The flow of refugees from East Timor was not the fault of the
military. They spontaneously fled to find someplace safe,"
Wiranto said after attending the meeting between Cohen and
Habibie.

Wiranto admitted military vehicles were used to transport the
refugees to East Nusa Tenggara, but said this was only because
other means of transportation were unavailable.

The TNI commander assured Cohen the military "would return the
refugees to their homes at the appropriate time".

At his media conference, Cohen addressed the secessionist
sentiments in a number of Indonesia's provinces, saying that
independence for East Timor was a unique case.

He said the U.S. would not support the breakup or
disintegration of the country.

During her meeting with Cohen, Megawati briefed him on major
issues in Indonesia, notably East Timor, and brought up several
matters which required the personal attention of U.S. President
Bill Clinton.

Megawati, the only party leader to meet one-on-one with Cohen,
also discussed the problem of restoring public trust in TNI,
according to PDI Perjuangan executive Kwik Kian Gie, who was
present at the meeting.

Kwik, however, declined to provide further details of the
meeting. (byg/prb/rms)