Indonesian Armed Forces (Tentara Nasionallndonesia-TNI) : Research Paper No. 23 1998-99
Indonesian Armed Forces (Tentara Nasionallndonesia-TNI) : Research Paper No. 23 1998-99
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Research Paper
No. 23 1998-99
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Research Paper
No. 23 1998-99
Bob Lowry
Consultant, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Group
29 June1999
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For several months after the fall of Suharto in May 1998 the Indonesian armed forces
particularly the army, police and marines, withstood a severe buffeting as democratic
forces mobilised to demand total reform of the political, economic and social structures of
the state. This was followed by the outbreak of communal violence across Indonesia as
various communities vented years of frustration at the failure of the central government to
satisfy regional aspirations and at the brutality of the armed forces in suppressing regional
dissent. The violence has been prolonged as a consequence both of Indonesia having a
caretaker government whose legitimacy is contested and of a severely depressed economy.
This was the second major shock that the Indonesian armed forces (TN!)l had suffered in
less than a year. By then it was apparent that the Asian financial crisis which had spread
throughout Southeast Asia in the last quarter of 1997 had become a severe economic
depression. It was a depression that hurt Indonesia more severely than most. Not only did
this crisis produce the social unrest that toppled the Suharto government but it also
crippled the capability and prospects of the TN!. Operations and training had to be
curtailed and plans for replacement and upgrading of equipment were cancelled or
deferred. Previously, official Australian analysts had been pointing to the strategic
consequences of regional armed forces, including Indonesia's, possessing capabilities
which might soon rival Australia's.2 Now, the focus turned to concern that the TNI and
police would be unable to maintain order and prevent inter-communal violence.
The primary determinant of these issues is essentially political. Meanwhile, the TNI and
police, guided by deep-seated conceptions of their role as the guardians of the state, are
struggling to keep their own cohesion. At the same time they are trying to keep Indonesia
together until the popular elections of June and Presidential elections of November 1999
give birth to the first democratically elected government since 1957.
There are no guarantees that the new government will have general public acceptance or
that it will prove equal to the challenges it will confront. Even if it has general initial
public acceptance, and is reasonably competent, public expectations might far exceed the
capacity of any government, producing ongoing social and political tensions, including
regional independence movements.
The TNI's position at the centre of Indonesian politics is on the wain after 41 years of
authoritarian rule. However, it will continue to playa major role in Indonesia, despite its
battered image, for many years to come. It can make or break the democratic transition. It
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Indonesian Anned Forces
can be part of the solution to regional independence movements or part of the problem, as
in the Suharto era. More specifically, it can provide a firm base for East Timor's transition
to independence or TNI actions can destabilise it for years to come.
One of the first acts of the new democratic government is likely to be a total review of
defence and security policy and the organisation and administration of the armed forces.
The success of these measures will also be determined by the ability of the new
government to satisfy the expectations of a long suppressed population. Failure to at least
give some hope that these aspirations will eventually be satisfied could lead to another
descent into authoritarianism.
Major changes in foreign and defence policy are unlikely but foreign policy will be more
politicised as a democratic government responds to the predominantly Islamic nature of
Indonesian society. Any conflict in the Middle East, for example, is likely to raise calls for
Muslim solidarity with the parties involved, including calls for the restriction of passage of
military vessels through the archipelagic straits. Any attempt to restrict maritime passage
by commercial or military vessels through archipelagic waters and straits would be of
concern to the international community
Although the first signs of the recovery of the Indonesian economy are becoming visible,
it will be some time before the TNI will be re-equipped and modernised. For the next few
years the main focus of the TNI will continue to be internal security. However, other roles
will get increasing priority as Indonesia struggles to maintain control of its borders and its
maritime resources, such as the potential Natuna gas fields on the fringes of waters in the
South China Sea disputed with China. Given Indonesia's resource limitations, the TNI is
unlikely to increase in size or capability for many years but there is scope for significant
qualitative improvement to better cope with the challenges ahead.
The fall of Suharto has opened up an opportunity to exchange ideas on how the TNI might
adapt to the new political reality. These activities could prove valuable as the TNI adapts
to more open political structures and revamps its policy, strategy, force structure, training
and administration. However, if the East Timor issue deteriorates, the clash of 'interests'
versus 'values' in Australia's cooperation with the TNI is likely to intensify. Whatever
disruptions may be caused by the transition process in East Timor, the prospects for
greater cooperation between the forces of the two countries will be greatly increased as
democracy take hold in Indonesia.
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Indonesian Armed Forces
Introduction
In 1998, the Indonesian armed forces were subject to numerous pressures. The Asian
financial crisis brought severe depression and the consequent social unrest toppled the
Suharto government and crippled the capability and prospects of the armed forces.
Operations and training had to be curtailed and plans for replacement and upgrading of
equipment were cancelled or deferred. For several months after the fall of Suharto in May
1998 the Indonesian armed forces, particularly the army, police and marines, withstood a
severe buffeting from democratic forces. This was followed by the outbreak of communal
violence across Indonesia. The violence has been prolonged as a consequence of Indonesia
having a caretaker government whose legitimacy is contested, and a severely depressed
economy.
Under pressure to improve it public image, the armed forces announced it own internal
reform program, including separation of the police from military command and the
renaming of the armed forces. The Indonesian Armed Forces, that is, the three Services
(TNI) and police (POLRI) were known collectively by the abbreviation ABRI. On 1 April
1999 the police force was separated from military command with the aim of reducing its
military image and refocussing on police functions. Consequently, the term ABRI has
been dropped and the armed forces are now known as the TN!.
This paper attempts to provide an overview of the TNI, its role in current developments
inside Indonesia and an insight into its possible future. It begins by looking at the TNI's
characteristics as a conventional military force. This is placed in context by a discussion of
Indonesia's foreign and defence policies to provide an insight into the TNI's strategic
thinking. The impact upon the TNI of recent economic events, and their consequences for
the development of the TNI's military capabilities is discussed.
.Since the 1950s the TNI has had a 'Dwi fungsi' (dual function) within Indonesia. As well
as its role as a military service, the TNI has carried responsibility for the economic, social
and political development of Indonesia. It is this role which has come under criticism most
heavily over the last two years and it is here that the TNI is under most pressure to change.
This paper studies these pressures and looks at their consequences in areas such as the
cohesion of the TNI, its role in East Timor and other areas and its possible place in the
future political structure of Indonesia.
The paper also includes a brief discussion of the defence links between Australia and
Indonesia and the possible effects upon them of the current period of turmoil.
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Indonesian Armed Forces
The sense of 'frustrated regional entitlement' that characterised Indonesian foreign policy
through to the 1980s has been replaced by a more sober assessment of Indonesia's place in
the world. 4 There is a consciousness, especially after the recent economic crash, that
geographic size, a large population, and great resource potential do not of themselves
equal power and influence. The opening of the economy to global influences and the
Indonesian liberalising of its political structures are also weakening latent economic
nationalism.
Nevertheless, democratic politics will ensure that economic nationalist policies will
continue to be promoted. The establishment of Islamic Banks, the promotion of small and
medium enterprises, and continued faith in an antiquated network of cooperatives are, in
some circles, considered essential to promote indigenous business (that is, non-Chinese
business) and to provide a buffer to international capital.
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Indonesian Armed Forces
support for a USA presence in the region as a moderating influence until the political
tensions in Northeast Asia are resolved and the political directions of the regions'
emerging powers become clearer. In particular, Indonesia has hosted a series of talks on
the South China Sea dispute between China and several Southeast Asian claimants to
sovereignty over the Spratly Islands with the aim of promoting a peaceful resolution of
those disputes.
Indonesia will probably continue its membership of peripheral organisations like the Non-
Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Islamic Conference Organisation (ICO) as a means of
providing leeway in relations with the dominant global powers and institutions and
globalising ideologies.
The UN might also become a more important forum for the expression of Indonesian
aspirations. Indonesia has staked a claim to a permanent seat on the United Nations
Security Council (UNSC) and might seek to use UN forums to blunt the hegemonic
tendencies of the major powers and globalising forces. Beginning in 1957 Indonesia has
contributed units and observers to several United Nations peacekeeping operations in
Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. This included playing a central role, along with
Australia, in bringing the Cambodian elections to fruition in 1993.
Indonesia has an extant dispute with Malaysia over the sovereignty of the islands of
Ligitan and Sipadan off the East Kalimantan border. After several failed attempts to settle
the dispute bilaterally, including some mutual close quarter shadowing of naval vessels
from the two countries patrolling the disputed area, both countries have agreed to submit
the dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for adjudication. Apart from this
dispute, Indonesia' borders are settled except for some uncertainty in relation to the
maritime boundary with China in the South China Sea.
If East Timor opts for independence the land and maritime borders of the new state will
also absorb some diplomatic effort. The fate of the Occussi Enclave,S and the maritime
boundaries between Indonesia and the new state might present some difficulties but should
be settled by diplomatic means. Indonesia's promotion and ratification of the Law of the
Sea Convention (LOSC) should assist in the process.
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Indonesian Armed Forces
however, was an exception to the general pattern of Indonesian defence policy before and
since. Indonesian defence policy has been defensive in nature. It has consistently
recognised the absence of an immediately menacing external threat and its own
geographic and economic vulnerabilities and weaknesses. 6
Alliances with either side in the Cold War were not practicable because of ideological
cleavages in Indonesian society. Hence the pursuit of an 'independent and active' foreign
policy and a complementary policy of self-reliance in defence, although in effect it
benefited from US presence in the region.
Self-reliance through conventional defence, particularly naval and air forces, was not
affordable so a policy of 'total people's defence' was adopted under which the whole
population would be mobilised to ward off any external threat to the sovereignty of the
nation. There is little likelihood that this general policy will change. Despite the
technological advances of the last half century, it is still a viable policy especially given
Indonesia's limited resources and its vast archipelagic estate.
Although Indonesia toyed with the idea of nuclear weapons in the early 1960s, the Suharto
regime did not pursue that option. On the contrary, it became a fIrm advocate of the
Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (SEANWFZ). It has also ratified the
Chemical Weapons Convention (CWe) and several other weapons limitation and control
conventions.
Indonesia also engages in defence cooperation with a number of countries across the globe
to obtain education and training and to acquire and maintain equipment and systems.
Many TNI officers and other ranks have undergone education and training overseas in a
number of disciplines since the 1940s and foreign military officers have been invited to
participate in Indonesian armed forces command and staff college courses since 1964.
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Indonesian Armed Forces
Training and technical support teams have also been deployed to Indonesia for a variety of
projects by several countries on a regular basis. Regular combined exercises, most on a
small scale, are also conducted in Indonesia by various countries.
Historically, Indonesia has focussed its strategic outlook to the north. The virulent anti-
communism of the Suharto regime meant that it paid particular attention to developments
in China. The Cold War in East Asia began to thaw soon after China began opening its
market to capitalism in 1978. Subsequently, doubts arose about USA commitment to the
region particularly after the announcement of its withdrawal from the Philippines when
questions were asked about who would fill the supposed vacuum and what would China
do with its growing wealth. Increasing tensions over disputed islands in the South China
Sea also unsettled the region. Nevertheless, Indonesia has not assessed that there is any
immediate threat from China and has sought, since unfreezing relations in 1989, to enjoin
China to participate in building a cooperative and peaceful regional community.
Nevertheless, China's size, it nuclear capability, its potential to develop large military
forces, its uncompromising stance on its ocean frontiers and its domestic political
uncertainties combined with its potential for internal chaos mean that Indonesia, along
with the rest of the region, pays close attention to developments there. None of this is
likely to change with Indonesia's transition to democracy.
Although Indonesia has no formal binding alliances, it would seek the cooperation of
regional countries and global powers in the unlikely event that its sovereignty was
threatened. Cooperation with the countries of Southeast and Austral Asia would be sought
to deter aggression and multiply military capability if conflict ensued. Having no nuclear
capacity or missile defences Indonesia might also seek the support of sympathetic regional
and global powers.
Should such efforts fail to stop hostile forces reaching Indonesia, its military strategy is
based on deterring threats to its sovereignty by demonstrating that it has the cohesion and
determination to resist external aggression on a sustained basis until the invader is worn
down and withdraws or is ejected by a counter offensive.
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Indonesian Armed Forces
be grouped into joint task forces which can be deployed throughout the archipelago at
short notice to handle two trouble spots at once. This force marks the borders and
represents a visible public declaration that Indonesia will not take lightly incursions on any
scale.
These forces could not sustain intense combat operations against a major regional power
for any length of time, nor could they protect the whole archipelago. Consequently,
Indonesian defence against a major invasion relies on territorial forces and coordinated
conventional and guerrilla operations to contain, wear down and evict invading forces.
Despite the rhetoric of self-sufficiency, continued access to external logistic supply would
be an essential element in the success of this strategy.
The likelihood of having to activate this strategy is very low but it does provide a basis for
defence planning, organisation, doctrine, and training. In addition the armed forces share
routine responsibility with other state organs for guarding the land, air and sea borders and
protecting national resources from unauthorised exploitation by Indonesian nationals and
foreigners.
ill particular, the navy and air force are responsible for surveillance of the vast reaches of
illdonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and archipelagic waters and coordinating the
activities of the other agencies involved.
The navy comprises two operational fleets, Western Fleet based in Jakarta and Eastern
Fleet based in Surabaya. Western Fleet covers the vital South China Sea approaches and
the Malacca and Sunda Straits. Eastern Fleet covers the Pacific Ocean approaches and the
LornboklMacassar Straits and straits further east. Each fleet also has several bases
scattered throughout its area of operations to support deployed units and units in transit.
The air force comprises around twenty squadrons, including six fighter squadrons. The
fighter squadrons are deployed to provide air defence of Java and the major approaches to
Java. It has virtually no strategic strike capability and very limited maritime surveillance
6
Indonesian Armed Forces
capacity. There are over 40 bases around the country capable of supporting limited air
operations as necessary.
Plans are in progress to increase the number of territorial commands (Kodam) from 10 to
17 with the aim of intensifying the army's capacity to maintain internal security across the
archipelago. 7 There are also proposals to interpose joint operational commands (that is, a
single headquarters commanding units of all services in a given operational area) between
the C-in-C and the existing primarily single service commands (that is, army, navy and air
force commands). 8 This would allow the C-in-C to concentrate on strategic functions and
his interactions with government. Ideally, such changes should flow from an overall
government review of defence and security arrangements by the new government rather
than being implemented on an ad hoc basis.
The social-political role has also been adjusted by demanding that all armed forces
personnel seconded to non-military roles be retired from the service. The 'social-political
staff of armed forces headquarters was also retitled 'territorial staff but retained a social-
political sub-section to manage armed forces political representation in parliament and in
cabinet.
Some people have called for the abolition of the army's territorial chain of command
because it was the means by which the armed forces suppressed the people in the past and
that its continued existence is a latent threat to a democratic transition. There is some basis
for these fears but other means of constraining the latent political menace of the command
arrangements will have to be found if the territorial structure remains appropriate to
Indonesia's defence and security policy and strategy.
7
Indonesian Armed Forces
These measures could include legislation to define and restrict the military's role,
separating the position of minister and C-in-C, a major reduction in personnel deployed in
territorial commands and units, oversight of the intelligence system, improvements in
conditions of service, enforcement of supervision of the role and functions of the territorial
commands, enforcement of restrictions on business activities by serving personnel, and the
impartial application of the law against all offenders, including those from the military.
The scale of the challenge can be glimpsed from the fact that Indonesia's GNP before the
economic crash was about half that of Australia's but Indonesia has over ten times
Australia's population and a fraction of its infrastructure. Its official defence budget was a
little less than 10 per cent of the government budget or less than one third of Australian's
defence budget. Although the armed forces were able to draw on other official and
unofficial sources· of funding these were mainly expended on personnel and operating
costs rather than capital equipment purchases.
The dollar value of the defence budget has also collapsed causing the cancellation of the
purchase of German submarines and Russian fighters and helicopters. The TNI has also
cancelled contracts for the local production of French artillery and all orders for transport
and maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters from the Indonesian aircraft manufacturer
IPTN.
Although capital expenditure has been drastically reduced from an already low level
Indonesia will proceed with the purchase of an additional squadron of Hawk multi-role
aircraft, bringing the total to 40. The squadron will be based at Pontianak (West
Kalimantan) and, along with the squadron based at Pekan Bam (Sumatra), provide air
defence, close air support and maritime strike on the South China Sea approaches
including the Natuna Islands.
The navy is in the most desperate condition with a fleet of ageing surface combatants and
support vessels mostly overdue for replacement. It is also left with a submarine force of
only two vessels after the cancellation of the order for five German vessels. The navy is
also responsible for coordinating, and much of the conduct of, maritime surveillance but it
is inadequately equipped and funded for the task and poor conditions of service detract
from effective implementation.
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Indonesian Armed Forces
Given the state of Indonesia's defence and security challenges and the state of its armed
forces there is scope for a total review and some imaginative thinking on the whole gamut
of Indonesian defence and security from the highest levels of policy down to conditions of
service for the private soldier before any further major capital expenditure is
contemplated.
Compounding these grievaIices were the racial, ethnic, religious and social cleavages that
have bedevilled Indonesian politics since the rise of nationalism early in the 20th Century.
In 1945, the founding fathers adopted the formula of a God fearing but secular state which,
with the promotion of Indonesian nationalism, was designed to unite this diverse
community. Unfortunately, these policies were undone by other policies like favouritism
of the· politically neutered Chinese in business, unfair land acquisition for politically
sensitive projects like transmigration, golf courses, forestry and dam building, and the
exploitation of religion for political purposes, especially in Suharto's later years.
The armed forces were both the agents of many of these dysfunctional policies and the
repressers when discontent arose. It must be acknowledged that the armed forces became
very sophisticated at managing discontent with minimum force during the Suharto era.
Suharto's political adroitness and a prolonged period of economic growth were also crucial
factors in the regime's longevity. The exceptions to this were on the periphery of the state,
particularly Aceh, Irian Jaya and East Timor, where grievances were deeply entrenched
and the brutality of the military response only served to deepen the resentment of Jakarta.
John Haseman, a former US military attache to Jakarta with several postings in Indonesia,
has declared that: 'There is still no substitute to the territorial structure of the army for
effective local government in rural Indonesia. The volatile Indonesian society needs the
fIrm hand of the security forces to maintain domestic stability both nationally and
locally.'10 However, as mentioned above, some Indonesians have called for the
dismantling of the territorial command system because its primary purpose has been to
maintain authoritarian rule.
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Indonesian Armed Forces
The armed forces can provide a fInn base on which the democratic transition can take
root, assuming that an effective government emerges from the 1999 electoral process. It
also assumes that the creative and productive forces of the regions are unlocked by
genuine decentralisation of political authority and appropriate economic incentives. These
are sensitive matters in a multi-ethnic empire with an understandable history of suspicion
and antipathy toward the central government and its regional agents. Inappropriate actions
by the military could easily foil reform efforts.
The turmoil in Indonesia during the caretaker period of the Habibie government and the
prominent role of the military in containing the violence is indicative of both years of
pent-up tensions and the absence of legitimate government in the interregnum between the
fall of Suharto in May 1998 and the formation of democratically elected national and
regional governments at the end of 1999. This has put the military in the difficult position
of having to maintain internal security without, in many cases, effective political
leadership to formulate and coordinate community responses to unrest and violence. Such
leadership is essential if military operations are to complement the search for political
solutions to such problems rather than aggravate them as has often happened in the past.
If any progress is to be made, the military will have to step back as the new government
takes control and the police are given the appropriate authority, organisation, doctrine,
training and conditions of service essential to their gaining the respect of the public. The
military might still be required to assist the government and police in prescribed
circumstances but under the general direction of the civil authority.
The military's internal security doctrine is well developed but its application often deviated
from doctrine. Correcting that shortcoming requires a review of doctrine, the
implementation of appropriate governmental and military oversight, the effective
application of civil and military law, appropriate training, and appropriate conditions of
service.
Even in the latter years of Suharto's reign the military had been influenced by calls for
respect for human rights in the performance of its duties. Human rights considerations
were incorporated in some training programs and some local commanders issued aide
memoirs to guide their troops. However, without appropriate political oversight and
enforcement, infringements continued. In the current environment, and probably even
more so under the new government, the military will need to pay greater attention to this
aspect of doctrine and training.
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Indonesian Armed Forces
Current signs are not encouraging. The military has shown contempt for the rule of law in
its handling of the case of politically motivated kidnappings involving the disappearance
of thirteen activists and the kidnapping of another nine in the last months of the Suharto
era. Lieutenant General Prabowo, Suharto's son-in-law, and the officer responsible for
many of these crimes, was given an honourable discharge and told to remain overseas until
the dust had settled11. Eleven of his subordinates were then tried for the kidnapping
offences and given light sentences 12 for which they will undoubtedly be compensated
later.
Some of the leniency shown towards Prabowo stems from a fear that his more radical
Islamic support base might have caused trouble within and outside the armed forces had
justice been allowed to prevail. Prabowo had cultivated the more radical elements of Islam
who also backed Habibie's rise to power and supported him against those elements of the
reforrnmovement which sought to unseat Habibie in late 1998. Along with others, they
opposed calls for Habibie's replacement by a collective leadership at the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) meeting held in November 1998 and helped mobilise
counter-demonstrations and auxilary units to assist police protect the MPR session from
disruption by demonstrators demanding Habibie's dismissal.
A Prabowo trial might also have uncovered dubious actions by other senior military
officers and Suhartos involvement in the case. This would have created difficulties for the
military's undertaking to preserve the honour and dignity of Suharto and his family after
he resigned. The case will be left to haunt the new government along with the more
general question of what to do about past abuses of power.
The dispersion of the military's loyalties contributes to the problem of declining morale as
reflected by the decline in disciple. Although members of the armed forces cannot vote
they live in a very plural society where mono-loyalty to the governing party and the figure
of Suharto has disappeared overnight leaving many disoriented. In these circumstances
loyalty to family, ethnic group and region can at times transcend their over-arching duty to
the armed forces as an instrument of the state. The accusations of bias by some troops
deployed to trouble spots around the archipelago is indicative of this as is fighting among
11
Indonesian Armed Forces
members of different military units and between members of the armed forces and the
police 14 •
Nevertheless, the military still maintains a high level of cohesion relative to the rest of the
nation and is still capable of providing a firm base for the democratic transition. But, could
this base be used to bridle political reform or even reassert military rule? The answer
depends on the election results and the inclinations and capacity of the new government.
A poor East Timor might pose non-military security concerns but these are law and order
problems which arise from a host of other sources. One more source will not overwhelm
any neighbouring state. Moreover, an independent. East Timor would be forced by
geography and economic reality to establish comprehensive relations with its immediate
neighbours.
Moreover, with the weight of Indonesia's strategic interests being at the other end the
archipelago why is the Indonesian National Army (TN!) wasting its soldiers lives and its
limited resources on trying to keep a strategic, political and economic backwater? Why is
it defying its own government's commitment to the letter and spirit of the UN process?
And, why does it enjoy independence from government direction in this matter?
Although East Timor is a drain on the Indonesian economy, individuals have benefited
from exploiting its resources and the contracts awarded for public works. George
Aditjondro has written of the land holdings and business interests of the Suharto family,
members of the East Timorese elite and past and present members of the TNlleadership in
East Timor. 15 He also asserts that there are untapped oil resources in East Timor that the
Suhartos want to retain. Evidence of oil in East Timor has been known for decades but
there is no evidence that the resources are prolific or that they are economically
exploitable. Material interests are a factor but not a deciding factor.
Military pride and an unwillingness to admit defeat is a factor, especially when one of the
military's doctrinal slogans, inherited from its Japanese army antecedents, is that it does
not accept surrender, it does not give up. In some cases strong bonds of comradeship have
also grown up between TN! officers and men who have served for long periods of time in
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Indonesian Armed Forces
the province and their East Timorese comrades, subordinates and agents. Some have also
married local women further cementing these emotional linkages.
Another factor is the continuing influence of former President Suharto and the army
officers whose reputations will be diminished by a vote for independence in East Timor.
Suharto was reluctant to take East Timor by force but having done so he was implacable in
keeping it. He refused to accept concessions or proposals for autonomy, even those
suggested by his son-in-law, Prabowo, a special forces officer who took a personal interest
in operations in the province. Ironically this issue unites many formerly estranged parties
in trying to foil the UN process.
It has also been suggested that the TNI does not want to encourage a snow-balling of
demands for independence that might follow East Timor's independence. However, the
manese and the Acehnese would press their respective political demands regardless of
what happens in East Timor. They will certainly use whatever political leverage they can,
including that of East Timorese independence when it comes, but the fate of these other
movements will not be determined by what happens in East Timor. This argument carries
little weight but has historically been effective in dampening criticism from foreigo
governments. Nevertheless, the combination of all the factors mentioned above confounds
the formulation of sensible policy by the TNI leadership.
Wiranto has the freedom to igoore the injunctions of President Habibie because of the way
he came to power in May last year. Habibie had never been a favourite of the military,
with some important exceptions. He owes his elevation to the vice presidency to Suharto.
When Suharto fell the military agreed to Habibie's succession on the understanding that he
would not interfere in what the military considered its internal affairs. In particular,
Habibie does not have the political clout to dismiss Wiranto or to curtail his authority by
leaving him as Minister for Defence and Security but appointing another officer to
command the armed forces.
Wiranto has been careful not to openly flout government policy but actions on the ground
in East Timor leave no doubt about TNI policy. Some observers suggest that Wiranto has
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Indonesian Armed Forces
no control over his subordinate commanders. But how can that be when he personally
appointed them in mid-1998 and has the authority to dismiss them at will? Nevertheless,
although a change of policy would have to be carefully managed to neutralise the
influence of some senior officers who would oppose it and to preserve morale in the army
generally, most of the TN! would be glad to be done with East Timor.
The fact that Wiranto has set the policy does not mean that he authorises every act of
violence undertaken but the general strategic direction comes from Jakarta. The TN!
strategy indicates that they do not believe that they can win a vote for autonomy without
resort to intimidation. At some point they will have to decide whether intimidation will
secure the desired result and let the vote go ahead; or accept the possibility of a vote for
independence; or drive the UN back to New York before the vote is taken.
A rigged result or the foiling of UN process will only lead to renewal of the insurgency
and leave an unnecessary legacy for the new Indonesian government to grapple with. It is
to be hoped that the TN! leadership will see the wisdom of supporting the UN process
before it is too late.
What it does need is greater participation by the Irianese in government and greater
opportunities for them to gain higher education and equality, if not priority, of
employment in Irian. Fears for security, low levels of education, and patronage flowing to
non-Irianese has kept Irianese participation in government and state agencies low. The
brutality and duplicity of the armed forces in dealing with dissent has also left a legacy of
bitterness that will not be easily forgotten.
Although Indonesia might be convinced to let the East Timorese determine their own fate
they will not countenance the same fate for the Irianese. Irian was part of the Netherlands
East Indies and so falls within the boundaries of Indonesia's colonial legacy. The fact that
it took twelve years for the Dutch to relinquish sovereignty to Indonesia and that it
entailed a fraudulent face saving plebiscite, for the benefit of the Dutch, does not diminish
Indonesia's claim to Irian under international law. Moreover, Indonesia would be very
reluctant to forgo the resource potential of Irian.
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Indonesian Armed Forces
Consequently, although Iriilnese nationalism might grow, Indonesia will vigorously resist
calls for independence. To avoid a more muscular insurgency the Indonesian govemment
will have to find ways of channelling Irianese aspirations into building their own province
for their own benefit while at the same time offering them equality of access to the
-, privileges of membership of the wider nation. Critically, the political leadership in
conjunction with the military and police will have to find ways of dealing with armed
separatists in ways which do not alienate the general population or close legitimate
channels of political expression.
If decentralisation to district level fails, Indonesia will have to switch rapidly to some
other fOIm of political and economic devolution if it is to avoid centrifugal pressures. The
police and military could come under extreme pressure in the political foment which will
accompany these adjustments. Firm control from the centre combined with responsiveness
to local conditions will be essential to maintaining control and respect for law and order
during these turbulent times. Consequently, the risk of the military using force against
political movements with possible violations of human rights will continue.
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Indonesian Armed Forces
seats in regional and national parliaments to military officers. He also allowed them to
occupy civil posts from village chief to cabinet minister both as a means of purchasing
loyalty and to balance the power of the bureaucracy.
Military participation in all aspects of government, which came to be known as the dual
function of the armed forces (Dwi fungsi ABRI), grew out of dissatisfaction with the
inability of the governments of the 1950s to address fundamental political questions due to
the alleged priority accorded to personal and sectoral interests over national interests.
Military participation was supposed to instil some discipline and concern for national
interest into the political process and executive agencies. Implementation of the concept
sprouted under Sukamo and bloomed under Suharto.
Since Suharto's fall TNI participation in national policy making and the placement of
officers in executive agencies has come cunder political pressure. The TNI allocation of
parliamentary seats has been retained for the coming parliamentary term (1999-2004) but
the percentage of seats in the national parliament has been reduced from 15 to 8 per cent.
This might still provide the TNI with a decisive influence if, as expected, no one party or
combination of aligned parties wins an absolute majority.
Retention of parliamentary seats by the armed forces allows them some influence on the
direction and pace of democratic reforms but it also has some disadvantages. According to
doctrine the armed forces stand above all Indonesia's diverse social, ideological, racial and
ethnic cleavages. It thus declared its neutrality in the June parliamentary elections.
However, when it comes to some issues in parliament, and, in particular, the presidential
elections it will have to declare its hand and this will inevitably establish a pattern that will
align the TNI with certain political forces and undermine its non-partisan proclamations.
It could also create a situation in which the C-in-C, who is also an ex officio member of
cabinet-unless the new president changes the cabinet structure---could direct his faction
to lobby and vote against government legislation. Given the president's prerogative to
appoint and dismiss the C-in-C, the armed forces faction could equally become a mere
cipher of the president. In either case the armed forces doctrinal position and rationale for
involvement in politics is undermined.
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Indonesian Armed Forces
The TNI has reformed the system of seconding officers and other ranks to government, the
bureaucracy and government business enterprises by giving incumbents the choice of
resigning or returning to the armed forces. It has also severed its political direction of
seconded personnel, and directed that in future they will only be seconded in competition
with appropriately qualified civilians. It is too much to expect that nepotism will disappear
overnight but the measures adopted will gradually reduce the influence of the TNI in non-
military posts.
The compromises that will be needed in forming the new government in late 1999 will
give the military some scope for bargaining but the military's political role will fade away;
the only question is how fast and under what conditions. General Wiranto forecast the
political debate to come when he said that three extreme tendencies had to be prevented:
the military over-reaching its authority, the isolation of the military from the people, and
excessive civilian interference in the internal management of the military.17
.\
Australia's Department of Defence (DOD) has spent about $7 million annually in the late
1990s on defence cooperation with Indonesia. Cooperation includes low level combined
, exercises with all three services, training in Australia and Indonesia, limited material and
logistic support, and reciprocal visits between senior officers and officials.
Training with the special forces has been suspended because of political sensitivities and
the scale of other exercises reduced. There have been accusations, like those aired on the
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Indonesian Armed Forces
Channel 9 Sunday program on 30 May 1999, that Special Air Service Regiment's (SASR)
training with their Indonesian counterpart, Kopassus, included ambush techniques taught
by Falintil prisoners. By implication, counter-measures to these techniques were then
applied against Falintil (the military arm of the Timorese independence movement) in East
Timor. This assumes that Kopassus could not have discovered such techniques for <
themselves and that the SASR made a contribution to the development of minor tactics
applied by Kopassus in East Timor. Both assumptions are questionable. Nevertheless, the
moral question of whether the SASR should have been involved in such training with a
unit renowned for it callousness in East Timor and other areas of operations remains a
matter for political judgment.
The fall of Suharto has opened up an opportunity to exchange ideas on how the TN! might
adapt to the new political reality. In March 1999 senior officers and officials met in
Jakarta to explore the nature of conflict; relations between civil and military institutions;
roles that governments expect militaries to play in promoting security; and reform and
organisational change. They also agreed to establish working groups on a number areas of
mutual interest. These activities could prove valuable as the TN! adapts to more open
political structures and revamps its policy, strategy, force structure, training and
administration.
However, if the East Timor issue deteriorates, the clash of 'interests' versus 'values' in
Australia's cooperation with the TN! is likely to intensify. In the absence of other pressing
interests the government might have to accept a temporary souring of relations with the
TN! to force it to reconsider its strategy in East Timor. If successful it would be in the long
term interests of all the parties concerned. Whatever disruptions may be caused by the
transition process in East Timor the prospects for greater cooperation between the forces
of the two countries will be greatly increased should democracy take hold in Indonesia.
Conclusion
The TNI's position at the centre of Indonesian politics is on the wain after 41 years of
authoritarian rule. The political structure is still in transition but the forthcoming elections
will probably produce a fledging democracy. It will take some years to consolidate
democratic institutions and norms and the TN! could play an important role in maintaining
national cohesion during that time.
To be effective, however, the new government will have to order a total review of defence
policy and ensure the subordination of the TN! to executive government at national and
lower levels. The success of these measures will also be determined by the ability of the
new government to satisfy the expectations of a long suppressed population. Failure to at
least give some hope that these aspirations will eventually be satisfied could lead to
another descent into authoritarianism.
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Indonesian Armed Forces
Major changes in foreign and defence policy are unlikely but foreign policy will be more
politicised. For the next few years the main focus of the TNI will continue to be internal
security. However, other roles will get increasing priority as Indonesia struggles to
maintain control of is borders and its maritime resources.
,
Given Indonesia's resource limitations, the TNI is unlikely to increase in size or capability
for many years but there is scope for significant qualitative improvement to better cope
with the challenges ahead.
Endnotes
1. The Indonesian Armed Forces, that is, the three Services (TN!) and police (POLRl) were
known collectively by the abbreviation ABRI until 1 April 1999 when the police force was
separated from military command and the term ABRI was dropped.
2. See, for instance, Department of Defence, Defending Australia, Defence White Paper 1994,
Canberra, 1984, p. 9ff and Department of Defence, Australia's Strategic Policy, Canberra
1997, p. 10.
3. Ahmad Sumargono, 'Islam Yes, Partai Islam Yes!', Media Dakwah, June 1998, p. 47.
4. 'The best analysis of Indonesian foreign policy up to the early 1980s is provide by Michael
. Leifer, Indonesia's Foreign Policy, George Allen & Unwin, London, 1983.
5. ':,East Timor is less than one quarter the size of Tasmania or more than twice the size of
Singapore. The Occussi enclave is a small pocket of land in West Timor about 120 kilometres
west of the East TimorlWest Timor border. Prior to 1975 it was part of Portuguese Timor.
6. Full coverage of Indonesian defence policy and strategy and its armed forces can be found in
Robert Lowry, The Armed Forces ofIndonesia, Allen & Unwin, St Leonards, 1996.
7. 'Pemekaran 17 Kodam Pertimbangan Teritorial', Suara Pembaruan, 22 May 1999.
8. 'Mana Yang Efektif, 17 Kodam Atau 13 Kodam Plus 2 Kowilhan?, Suara Pembaruan, 24
March 1999.
9. For a description of the power play between Habibie and Wiranto in the months after May
1998 see Marcus Mietzner, 'From Suharto to Habibie: the Indonesian Armed Forces and
Political Islam during the transition', in Geoff Forrester, Post-Suharto Indonesia: Renewal or
Chaos, Crawford House Publishing, Bathurst, 1999, pp. 65-102.
, 10. John Haseman, Southeast Asian Affairs 1999, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore,
1999, forthcoming.
11. 'HOT NEWS: Prabowo Dipecat', Suara Pembaruan, 24 August 1998.
12. 'Delapan Anggota Tim Mawar Naik Banding', Suara Pembaruan, 7 April 1999.
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Indonesian Armed Forces
13. 'Kasum ABRI: Ada Yang Inginkan Anggota TNI Dan Polri Tidak Kompak', Suara
Pembaruan, 8 April 1998.
14. 'Polisi Dikeroyok Puluhan Lelaki Berbadan Tegap', Suara Pembaruan, 7 April 1999. (
15. George Aditjondro, Is Oil Thicker Than Blood? A Study of Oil Companies Interests and
Western Complicity in Indonesia's Annexation of East Timor, Nova Science, 1999.
16. Harold Crouch, The Anny and Politics in Indonesia, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 1988, p.
179.
17. 'Wiranto: Cegah Kewenangan Terlalu Jauh Bag! Militer', Suara Pembaruan, 24 May 1999.
lK Robert Lowry, Australia-Indonesia Security Cooperation: For Better or Worse?, Working
Paper No. 299, SDSC, ANU, 1996.
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