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)