DATE=2/11/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA-MILITARY
NUMBER=5-45430
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The struggle between Indonesia's president and
his former military chief has highlighted the profound
changes that have taken place in Indonesian
institutions since President Suharto was forced out
nearly two years ago. The once-powerful military now
finds itself on the defensive, accused of human rights
abuses. VOA correspondent Gary Thomas reports from
Jakarta on efforts to reform the Indonesian military.
TEXT: The once-cozy, secure world of the Indonesian
military has been turned upside down.
During the 32 years of President Suharto's autocratic
rule, the military and civil arms of the government
were so inextricably linked as to be nearly
indistinguishable. The military enjoyed patronage and
protection from Mr. Suharto, himself a former general.
It also played a dominant political role under a
doctrine known as "dual function".
But now the military finds itself answering to a
democratically elected civilian government. And while
everyone seems to agree on the need for military
reform, no one seems quite sure of how to go about it.
In an exclusive interview with VOA, Lieutenant General
Agus Widjojo, one of the country's most senior
officers, said the military is committed to reform.
Speaking in his office at military headquarters
outside Jakarta, he said both the military and the
civilian sides are in a learning process.
// WIDJOJO ACT //
So the reform of the military does not necessarily,
totally depend on one side, of the military, only. But
it is a two way traffic, an understanding how to play
the game, the military towards the civilians, but also
the civilians towards the military. And this is where
the simultaneous learning process is going on in
Indonesia.
// END ACT //
General Widjojo said the military is looking for a
specific legal framework on its role in the new,
democratic Indonesia.
// WIDJOJO ACT //
Here comes also the requirement for a definite legal
umbrella which will give the authority to what they
may do. And that will go, again, into the civil-
military relations - that is, the requirement of the
civilians to understand how to handle, how to use, how
to control, the military, and what sort of regulations
and laws are required so that soldiers on the ground
will do the job without any hesitancy.
// END ACT //
Salim Said, a prominent civilian analyst of Indonesian
military affairs, agrees that new rules on the
evolving civil-military relationship must be laid
down. But, he points out, the military has been left
to fend for itself in defining what reform should be.
That, says Mr. Said, is a big mistake.
// SAID ACT //
In the past we made the mistake in allowing the
military to decide their function. That's why we had
"dual function." We should not repeat that mistake
again. So do not ask questions of the military, how
far they are reforming themselves. They should make
reformation based on the basic reformation made by the
civilians.
// END ACT //
Mr. Said says that parliament must act, or there is a
risk to returning to old ways.
// SAID ACT //
But what we would like to see is that the parliament,
representing the people, has a say on the Indonesian
military, not only the president. Because there is a
danger: if the president is controlling the military
without the control of the parliament, the president
can easily repeat the mistake of Suharto, politicizing
the military for his own political interest. We have
to avoid that kind of thing.
// END ACT //
Mr. Said says the time to make those changes is now,
when the popularity of the Indonesian armed forces is
at a low ebb both domestically and internationally.
Former armed forces chief General Wiranto and at least
five other generals have been implicated in human
rights abuses in East Timor. (signed)
Neb/gpt/gc/plm
11-Feb-2000 05:02 AM EDT (11-Feb-2000 1002 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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