Military reform has ceased, say analysts

By Protus Tanuhandaru

Jakarta, The Point

Launching the first edition of a newspaper specifically divulging information related to the Indonesian military, activists representing their respective NGOs who have grouped into a consortium managing the publication, said the military has stopped reforming, at a press conference held Wednesday.

Explaining the content of the first edition of the newspaper, Usman Hamid, the chief editor of the monthly publication, said that “the military still has a variety of issues to reform.”

Notwithstanding such scrutiny, on October 5, 2006, the Indonesian military is set to commemorate its 6th anniversary, displaying its military might before President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Distributed through the network of the consortioum, the sixteen-page newspapers, entitled Berita Rakyat (News for the People), divulges information on what the military has or has not been able to accomplish in carrying out its reform.

The issues the military needs to reform, according to Hamid, who is also the coordinator of Kontras – the commission for disappearances and victims of violence – range from military’s right to vote and ambiguous military business enterprise to illegitimate procurement of armaments.

During his speech, Hamid dismissed the military efforts to dissolve its business empire as ambiguous and TNI’s use of legitimate national budget as “futile,” saying “the President is not even receptive to such issue.”

Talking about the performance of the government, Hamid said military men have positioned themselves as civilian, withholding tenure in key political, business, and bureaucratic positions.

Hamid also read out an article written by Munir, the activist found dead while flying to Holland to further his study. Looking into Munir’s computer Hamid said he accidently found an article disclosing information of armaments bought by the military.

Referring to the preponderant issue facing the military today, its rights to vote, Hamid said that said withholding the military’s right to vote is “not politically wise.”

Hamid also added that regulation against their rights to vote does not mean that the military will not be involved in 2009 election.

Concurring with Hamid is retired general Kiki Syahnakri, who added that politicians need to learn how to be tolerant of others’ perceptions and most importantly “how to accept their loss should they lose their campaign.”

The consortium consists of NGOs such as INFID, Imparsial, Kontras, HRWG, Propartia, Lesspersi, ICW, the Ridep Institute, ISAI, Visi Anak Bangsa, Yayasan Pemantau Hak Anak, Walhi, LBH Jakarta, IDSPS, YLBHI, and KASUM. (PRT)