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Defense program marches on amid public concern

Jakarta Post - October 15, 2015

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Nani Afrida, Ina Parlina and Haeril Halim, Jakarta – Despite public criticism, the government of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has insisted on moving forward with its national service program.

Jokowi is scheduled to attend the opening of the first phase of the program on Oct. 19, which will involve 4,500 personnel from 45 regencies in Indonesia.

"We have prepared the curriculum, so that all participants will get the same training in each province," said Defense Ministry director of state defense Commodore M Faizal.

It is reported that the Defense Ministry plans to train 100 million civilians in a state defense program within a decade.

The program aims to inspire nationalism and is in line with Article 30 of the Constitution, which stipulates that Indonesians have a right and duty to defend their country.

Faizal said that the training would be held at each regiment military area (Rindam) or military battalion headquarters in every province. Although the Indonesian Military (TNI) will train the participants, the government has said it will not be military training. The participants will attend classes on several subjects including national concepts, nationalism and discipline.

Adults aged under 50 years are obliged to join the program, as long as they are strong and healthy. After the training, the participants will be listed as cadres in the National Political Unity Office (Kesbangpol).

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan voiced support for the program, saying that it aimed at instilling "discipline in our children so that they have a [strong] mental state; just like [Jokowi's concept of] mental revolution".

According to Luhut, the move also aimed to raise awareness about security threats such as narcotics and terrorism. "It won't be like [compulsory military service]," Luhut said on Monday. "Of course, [the instructors] will be a combination of the military, the police and other elements."

TNI chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo said the military was ready to take part in the initiative. "We are ready and we will gladly carry it out," he said on Monday.

Human rights watchdog Setara Institute said on Wednesday that members of the public should reject the government's plan because not only would the program waste tax payers' money, but it also would not make any contribution to the current situation in Indonesia, which was no longer under military rule.

Setara chairman Hendardi said the government's claim that the program would improve the loyalty of citizens to the state was irrational and irrelevant.

"Financially, the state budget cannot afford to pay for the program. Also, national defense education is not a project attributed to one particular ministry but is an education-based strategy integrated into our national education system that seeks to create strong citizens who love their country," Hendardi told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Hendardi said that if the government claimed that the current national education system had failed to produce loyal citizens with strong national pride then it should fix the country's education system instead of requiring civilians to serve in such a quasi-military program.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/10/15/defense-program-marches-amid-public-concern.html.