ADNKI, Nov-01-06 17:20
Indonesia: Army reform key to peaceful Sulawesi
Jakarta, 1 Nov. (AKI) - The solution for the strife-torn Indonesian province of Central
Sulawesi lies elsewhere, in Jakarta, where the national government must push for a
proper reform of the army, a leading analyst has told Adnkronos International (AKI).
"The government must put the TNI under full civilian authority; it must forbid it to
engage in business and it must disband the territorial structure," said George
Aditjiondro, who has closely followed developments in the area, where sectarian
attacks have recently fuelled tension. He was referring to the pervasive presence of
the armed forces across Indonesia.
This territorial structure was the means used by former dictator Suharto to keep
control of Indonesia's vast and farflung territory during his 33 years of rule which ended
with his overthrow in 1998. According to experts, the structure allows the TNI to
influence local politicians and to act with impunity.
The reform of the TNI, which began in 1998, has proceeded in fits and starts in recent
years.
"Until this is achieved, there will always be conflict areas, like Central Sulawesi," he
added.
As well as guaranteeing a certain political weight at a national level, the conflict zones
also offer economic opportunities which the military do not want to miss.
"Conflict brings always extra income. In Poso [the most turbulent area in Central
Sulawesi] it is all about ebony. The trade of this wood is actually forbidden, but in
Poso every middle or low rank TNI member is involved," he said.
"Generals instead earn thanks to collusion with the big industries that arrived in the
area thanks to the conflict" he said, recalling that in Indonesia, the state provides only
30 percent of the annual budget of the army, which finances itself with a series of
activities, both legal and illegal.
Without the conflict, anad therefore the presence of military forces, it would be much
harder for some industries to overcome the opposition of the local people and operate
in the area. "The TNI makes sure that protests are kept to a minimum" he concluded.
Among the latest beneficiaries of the tension in Poso the expert underlined two
belonging to the Bukaka Teknik Utama, a conglomerate that is closely linked to the
economic empire of the powerful vice president of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla.
Central Sulawesi is one of the few provinces in Indonesia where the number of
Christians and Muslims is more or less equal. It was the scene of violence sectarian
clashes from 1998-2001 which caused 1000 deaths and forced 63,000 people to flee
their homes.
Despite the truce signed in December 2001, there have been sporadic episodes of
violence. The latest clashes followed the execution of three Christians on 22
September for their role in the three years conflict. (Fsc/Aki)
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