Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Robertus Belarminus, Jakarta – A number of national figures who are members of a civil society organisation called the National Conscious Movement (Gerakan Nurani Bangsa) have criticised the planned revisions to the law on the Indonesian Military (UU TNI) which now only needs to be ratified in a plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR).
The criticisms were conveyed in three messages read out by one of the movement's members, namely the former Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin.
"The National Conscious Movement conveys the following messages. First, the placement of active TNI members in civilian institutions will actually weaken the professionalism of the TNI", said Saifuddin during a press conference at the Driyarkara College of Philosophy (STF) in Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon, March 18.
The criticisms that were conveyed highlighted one of the points in the Draft Law on the TNI (RUU TNI), namely the article on the placement of active TNI officers in civilian positions.
According to the National Conscience Movement, the TNI will lose focus on its main function and main duties as a state tool in the defence sector if its duties are added to by civilian positions.
Second, continued Saifuddin, the military has different traditions from civilians when it comes to arguing to find solutions. Thus, the National Conscience Movement believes that placing active TNI in civilian positions will actually kill democracy.
"The second message, is that in contrast to the civilian tradition which is accustomed to sharing perspectives and arguing objectively to reach agreement when facing differences in managing life together, the military is educated to strictly obey hierarchical commands and has the authority to carry out armed violence", said Saifuddin.
"The positive characteristics of a military organisation, in a civilian institution, will actually kill democracy. This will not only eliminate public participation, but also has the potential to violate human rights in organising communal life", he said.
The final message is that the TNI as a state institution and the DPR as an institution of the people's representatives must be able to maintain the trust of the people as the holders of sovereignty in Indonesia.
According to Saifuddin, the denial of the desire for reformasi – the political reform process that began in 1998 – in the form of enforcing civil supremacy will cause the two institutions to be uprooted from the people.
"Therefore, the government and the DPR must not draft laws that deviate from the mandate of the 1945 Constitution and MPR [People's Consultative Assembly] Decree Number VI/MPR/2000 on the Separation of the TNI and Polri [the National Police] and [Decree] Number VII/MPR/2000 on the Role of the TNI and the Role of Polri", said Saifuddin.
The National Conscience Movement consists of a number of national figures including religious leaders, academics and also the Gusdurian network – a network of supporters of former president Abdurahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.
Attending the press conference was Jesuit priest and author Franz Magnis Suseno, Gusdurian network national coordinator and daughter of Abdurahman Wahid, Alissa Wahid, Cardinal Suharyo, philosopher Karlina Rohima Supelli, Romo Setyo Wibowo and other figures.
The RUU TNI has now obtained approval from the DPR's Commission I to be taken to a plenary meeting to be enacted into law.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Gerakan Nurani Bangsa Beri 3 Pesan Terkait RUU TNI, Apa Saja?".]
