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Jokowi told to rein in military
Jakarta Post - June 5, 2015
The group, which called itself Punakawan after the band of jesters in Javanese shadow puppetry, and was comprised of Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI) founder Jaya Suprana, political and military analyst Salim Said, humanitarian activists and Catholic priests Sandyawan Sumardi and Wardah Hafidz, former coordinating economic minister Rizal Ramli and several others, had a meeting with Jokowi over lunch at the State Palace on Thursday.
"I hope the President can remind his men not to drag the military into doing civilian work, for example, in maintaining and taking care of the railway stations, prisons and airports. There are already people assigned to do such jobs," Salim said.
Salim, who has long been known as an expert on the TNI, said during the meeting: "Although he [Jokowi] is a civilian, the Constitution says he has the highest authority over the Navy, the Army and the Air Force. Therefore, the military will respect him regardless of his civilian clothes."
In recent months, Jokowi had been seen at least twice wearing military fatigues – last month when he inaugurated the construction of a military hospital in East Jakarta and in April when he was bestowed with honorary military berets in a ceremony at TNI headquarters.
During the latter ceremony, TNI commander Gen. Moeldoko pledged loyalty to Jokowi, the country and the Constitution, and promised his troops would carrying out their duties professionally.
A report released last month by a think-tank called the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) showed that the TNI had tried to expand its influence into civilian areas and to take back some powers from the police since Jokowi took office in October last year.
The report also warned the government about the importance of strengthening civilian control over the TNI and preventing the military from taking over roles that had nothing to do with defense.
"The TNI has managed to position itself as the President's reliable ally at a time when he is under political pressure from all sides," IPAC director Sidney Jones said in a recent statement.
Jokowi held a meeting with top TNI officials in February when he was under pressure to decide the fate of former National Police chief nominee Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, a move many believed was done to improve his standing in the face of mounting pressure from the public and his political rivals.
Separately, on Thursday, National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti said the force had officially proposed a remuneration hike for police personnel, a move many believed was inspired by Jokowi's plan to increase the military remuneration by 56 to 60 percent starting in May.
Jokowi made the announcement during the April ceremony when he was awarded the military berets. "Well, just like the TNI, which had its remuneration increased by 56 to 60 percent, we are also making the same proposal," Badrodin told reporters at the Vice Presidential Office on Thursday.
Recently, antigraft campaigners and several high-profile figures have rejected the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) plan to recruit TNI personnel for several key positions, criticizing the KPK for looking for an ally to defend it from the police following the recent standoff between the two institutions.
IPAC's report also highlighted that counterterrorism has become "one of the most important battlegrounds between the police and the military", pointing out examples of the recent joint combat exercises in restive Poso, Central Sulawesi, which is the hiding place of Santoso, the country's most wanted terrorist.
The two institutions, however, have said the joint training program was a part of an effort to reduce tensions between the two following police separation from the TNI.
Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/06/05/jokowi-told-rein-military.html.
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