TNI accused of imposing martial law 'by stealth' in Maluku
The Jakarta Post May 30, 2002
Yogita Tahilramani
The appointment of Maj. Gen. Djoko Santoso to lead security restoration operations in the troubled Maluku province points to clear domination of the military there and a tactful admission by the Indonesian Military (TNI) that it will not submit to orders issued by the police or civilians, including Governor Saleh Latuconsina, a sociologist said on Wednesday.
Thamrin Amal Tomagola of the University of Indonesia said that Djoko's appointment as commander of the security restoration operations, aside from heading the Pattimura Regional Military Command in Maluku, indicated that with skillful engineering, the TNI had managed to impose martial law by stealth. This followed the restructuring of security authorities in which the TNI has been assigned by the Indonesian government to lead the day-to-day security operations in Maluku.
"TNI wanted to impose martial law but since this was strongly rejected by the Ambonese public and legislators, they engineered the situation in such a way that the TNI instead set up a new security command body ... even if it is a civil emergency status there, it is in now in effect martial law," Thamrin told The Jakarta Post over the phone from Bali.
He said that the appointment of a military general to lead the new security command was in contradiction with the law.
Similarly, human rights activist Munir said on Wednesday that the formation of a new security command in Maluku, goes against all existing regulations, including Law No. 23/1959 on the state of emergency, which clearly stipulates that police are the front-line authority during a civil emergency status.
Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno firmly denied on Wednesday that the government's decision had in turn allowed the TNI to impose martial law by stealth.
According to MPR Decree No. 7 on the role of the Indonesian Military and the National Police, the police are in charge of security, while the military is in charge of defense matters and, when necessary, will back up the police.
Thamrin, however, doubted that the TNI would comply with the instructions issued by the Maluku civil emergency authorities.
"The main problem ... that the TNI will not bow before the governor's orders or instructions, remains. Even though (Army chief) Gen. Endriartono Sutarto gave his word that TNI will follow orders issued by Governor Latuconsina, I seriously doubt it. When a military brigadier general did not follow the governor's orders, why should a major general do so?" Thamrin asserted.
Thamrin advised that Governor Latuconsina refrain from issuing orders behind doors in closed meetings with local military and police chiefs, and should instead make his orders known to the legislators and the general public.
"This way ... he will not be made a pawn by military or police chiefs. He instead should lobby for support from legislators and the general public by first making public all orders he issues," Thamrin said.
Djoko was appointed on Tuesday to lead the security restoration operations and head the Pattimura Regional Military Command in Maluku. He replaced Brig. Gen. Mustopo as the Pattimura Regional Military Commander, who will be transferred to another post at Army Headquarters.
Separately, the National Police insisted on Wednesday that the appointment of a military general did not render the police "inferior".
"The National Police were involved in the making of this decision in meetings led by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. It was a necessary security measure. The police and the military will try to restore security in Maluku at any cost and if the command is being led by a military general ... then the police too are not that inflexible that they cannot accommodate such a decision," National Police deputy spokesman Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang told the Post on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Saleh Saaf added that there was a "50-50 chance" that Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Soenarko would be replaced as well in the coming days.
Copyright © 2002The Jakarta Post
The Jakarta Post May 30, 2002
Yogita Tahilramani
The appointment of Maj. Gen. Djoko Santoso to lead security restoration operations in the troubled Maluku province points to clear domination of the military there and a tactful admission by the Indonesian Military (TNI) that it will not submit to orders issued by the police or civilians, including Governor Saleh Latuconsina, a sociologist said on Wednesday.
Thamrin Amal Tomagola of the University of Indonesia said that Djoko's appointment as commander of the security restoration operations, aside from heading the Pattimura Regional Military Command in Maluku, indicated that with skillful engineering, the TNI had managed to impose martial law by stealth. This followed the restructuring of security authorities in which the TNI has been assigned by the Indonesian government to lead the day-to-day security operations in Maluku.
"TNI wanted to impose martial law but since this was strongly rejected by the Ambonese public and legislators, they engineered the situation in such a way that the TNI instead set up a new security command body ... even if it is a civil emergency status there, it is in now in effect martial law," Thamrin told The Jakarta Post over the phone from Bali.
He said that the appointment of a military general to lead the new security command was in contradiction with the law.
Similarly, human rights activist Munir said on Wednesday that the formation of a new security command in Maluku, goes against all existing regulations, including Law No. 23/1959 on the state of emergency, which clearly stipulates that police are the front-line authority during a civil emergency status.
Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno firmly denied on Wednesday that the government's decision had in turn allowed the TNI to impose martial law by stealth.
According to MPR Decree No. 7 on the role of the Indonesian Military and the National Police, the police are in charge of security, while the military is in charge of defense matters and, when necessary, will back up the police.
Thamrin, however, doubted that the TNI would comply with the instructions issued by the Maluku civil emergency authorities.
"The main problem ... that the TNI will not bow before the governor's orders or instructions, remains. Even though (Army chief) Gen. Endriartono Sutarto gave his word that TNI will follow orders issued by Governor Latuconsina, I seriously doubt it. When a military brigadier general did not follow the governor's orders, why should a major general do so?" Thamrin asserted.
Thamrin advised that Governor Latuconsina refrain from issuing orders behind doors in closed meetings with local military and police chiefs, and should instead make his orders known to the legislators and the general public.
"This way ... he will not be made a pawn by military or police chiefs. He instead should lobby for support from legislators and the general public by first making public all orders he issues," Thamrin said.
Djoko was appointed on Tuesday to lead the security restoration operations and head the Pattimura Regional Military Command in Maluku. He replaced Brig. Gen. Mustopo as the Pattimura Regional Military Commander, who will be transferred to another post at Army Headquarters.
Separately, the National Police insisted on Wednesday that the appointment of a military general did not render the police "inferior".
"The National Police were involved in the making of this decision in meetings led by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. It was a necessary security measure. The police and the military will try to restore security in Maluku at any cost and if the command is being led by a military general ... then the police too are not that inflexible that they cannot accommodate such a decision," National Police deputy spokesman Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang told the Post on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Saleh Saaf added that there was a "50-50 chance" that Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Soenarko would be replaced as well in the coming days.
Copyright © 2002The Jakarta Post
