INFID, September 2, 2004
INFID's Short News Overview No. V/22: August 2 - September 2,
2004
General News
Military Tribunal handed over to Supreme Court
The Indonesian military on Sept. 1 officially handed over authority of their military
tribunal to the Supreme Court as part of the government's drive to put all judicial
courts under one roof.
The handover was made by military chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto to Bagir Manan,
the head of Indonesia's Supreme Court.
With the official handover, all military and civilian personnel of the military tribunal will
now become personnel of the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Bagir Manan said the Supreme Court was preparing a new system,
whereby military personnel who were charged with violating the Criminal Code would
stand trial at a district court, in accordance with People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR) Decree No. VII/2000 on the role of the TNI and the National Police.
Article 3 paragraph 4 of the decree stipulates that soldiers are subject to trial at the
military tribunal for violations of the Military Law, and the public court for violations of
the Criminal Code.
Debate has been rife for decades over military personnel who commit crimes and are
not tried at a civilian court. Critics, prompted by the lack of public access to the court,
have accused the military court of protecting soldiers.
Bagir said that for the time being, the military tribunal would continue to try soldiers.
Separately, Endriartono said he supported the idea of trying soldiers who are accused
of committing crimes at district courts.
"But, investigative affairs remain the responsibility of the Military Police in a bid to
prevent possible problems following the separation of the police from the military," he
said.
Sources: AFP 01/09, JP 02/09
Indonesian Military rejects Civilian Supremacy
The House committee deliberating the military bill and the government struggled in
vain on Sept. 1 to define the nature and duty of the Indonesian Military (TNI) as a
group of women staged a protest against the draft.
The government-sponsored bill defines the TNI by spelling out the acronym as Tentara
National Indonesia, while House factions want to add substance to the definition.
Legislator Effendi Choirie of the National Awakening Party (PKB) criticized the bill for
not clearly defining the TNI. He said clear definitions were important in the deliberation
of any bill.
Effendi suggested the TNI be defined as an armed force that served as the main
component of state defense.
During the deliberation on Aug. 31, the PKB faction proposed the inclusion of four
principles -- professionalism, civil supremacy, humanitarianism and transparency -- in
considerations of the bill. Endriartono and some ffactions, however, rejected the
proposal, saying that it was uncommon to include operative clauses in
considerations.
The government insisted on maintaining the original formula the role of TNI: to protect
its territorial integrity, protect the safety of the nation, launch other military operations
besides war operations, and actively involve in regional and international peace
keeping missions.
TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, who came late to the hearing, said the TNI had
been trying to improve its professionalism. "However, the professionalism of the TNI is
different from the professionalism of a boxer or tennis player," he said. Endriartono
said the TNI's professionalism was dependent upon the synergy of its capability and
its duties.
Meanwhile, a group of women staged a peaceful demonstration at the House of
Representatives (DPR) on Sept. 1 to protest the deliberation of the bill.
Arguing that the current draft would only sustain the military's political role, the
women, most of who were accompanied by their children, demanded that the
deliberation be suspended pending more public input.
"Lawmakers must suspend the deliberation. We, the public, want to be involved in the
drafting of the bill," said activist Yeni Rosa Damayanti during the protest.
They also distributed a statement by Aliansi Perempuan (Women Alliance)
demanding that active military personnel be barred from occupying civilian posts --
except for some posts in the defense ministry -- and that the TNI be placed under the
Ministry of Defense.
Read other TNI-related articles:
TNI bill Professionally or politically motivated?:
http://www.infid.be/military_bill_jp3108.htm.
Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara: "The TNI still wields a lot of influence...":
http://www.infid.be/military_hakim.htm.
Indonesian Military Applauds Human Rights Acquittals:
http://www.infid.be/military_wp3108.htm.
Sources: JP 02/09, Kompas 30/08 01/09
Megawati's and SBY's wealth rocket in 3 years
In three years, the amount of President Megawati Soekarnoputri's verified assets has
increased by more than Rp 15 billion (US$1.6 million) to over Rp 75 billion, the
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced on Sept. 1.
The commission found the Megawati's assets were worth a total of Rp 75,057,768,545
on Aug. 26 this year, an increase from the Rp 59,809,315,484 reported on March 26,
2001, KPK member Amin Sunaryadi said. Amin attributed the more than Rp 15 billion
increase in Megawati's assets to savings from her monthly presidential salary of more
than Rp 50 million and profits from her businesses. Megawati owns several gas
stations in Jakarta, which she built before being elected as the country's vice
president in 1999.
Earlier, presidential contender Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono went to the KPK office to
clarify his wealth, which was reported at Rp 4.5 billion in 2004. When becoming a
member of the Cabinet in 1999, Susilo reported to the now-defunct Civil Servants
Wealth Report Audit Commission (KPKPN) his wealth amounted to Rp 3.4 billion.
Megawati's running mate Hasyim Muzadi has also declared to the commission his
total verified wealth, which stood at Rp 7.6 billion. Earlier reports said he was worth
some Rp 7.2 billion.
Jusuf Kalla, who is also a wealthy businessman, is yet to appear at the KPK office to
verify his personal assets.
Read related article on KPK at: http://www.infid.be/corruption_worrying.htm (A
Worrying Move. The KPK has temporarily blocked the public from gaining access to
the Report of State Officials' Wealth, denying the people's right to know.)
Sources: AFX 31/08, JP 02/09
Jakarta bureaucrats say they loathe to be called public servants
Complaints over poor public services are often a subject of conversation among
Jakartans in offices, coffee shops, markets, waiting rooms and on public
transportation.
A number of bureaucrats, however, feel that the complaints of tax payers do not
deserve any response.
This attitude among bureaucrats surfaced on Monday at the quantum leadership and
role awareness workshop attended by around 100 of Jakarta's subdistrict and district
heads.
The workshop was organized by the Indonesian Civil Servant Corps (Korpri) to discuss
efforts to improve the city's public services.
A workshop participant, who is a subdistrict head in North Jakarta, objected to being
called a public servant.
He said such a term would raise people's expectations. "By thinking that we are their
servants, people will be spoiled. They will be arrogant toward us," said the official, who
did not mention his name while speaking at the workshop.
Read the full text at: http://www.infid.be/public_servants.htm.
Source: JP 31/08
Election News
SBY still leads, but support for Mega is increasing
Ex-army general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has kept his lead in the race for
Indonesia's top job, surveys showed on Sept. 1, but Mega's approval rating is
increasing after Golkar throws its weight behind her.
The Indonesian Survey Institute released the results of an opinion poll on Sept. 1
showing the approval rating for Mr Bambang dropping by 7 percentage points to 61.1
per cent in more than a month. Ms Megawati saw her rating increase by 7 per cent to
30.3 per cent in that period.
In a nationwide poll conducted by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) late in August,
days after Megawati launched her coalition, the majority of 1,200 respondents said
they would support her former security minister. Asked who they would vote for if the
election was held on the day of the survey, 58.2 percent chose Yudhoyono and 29.2
percent backed Megawati. Another poll shows an even slimmer margin between the
two.
According to a survey by the Centre for Political Studies (CPS), 41.3 per cent of some
5,000 respondents said they would vote for Mr Bambang while 34.68 per cent were for
the incumbent.
Still another survey, conducted by the International Foundation for Election Systems
early last month, showed a considerable decline in support for Mr Bambang - from 66
per cent in July to 62 per cent - while Ms Megawati enjoyed a 4 per cent rise to 28 per
cent.
In mid-August, Megawati formed the Nationhood Coalition, grouping the top three
parties in April's legislative elections -- Golkar, her own Indonesian Democratic
Party-Struggle (PDI-P) and the Muslim-oriented United Development Party, along with
aa few others. Together their members will account for 60 percent of the next
parliament.
Megawati also has the support of Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubowono
X. During a meeting on Sept. 1 Hamengkubowono and Megawati autographed joint
portraits and agreed to distribute them to the public ahead of the runoff.
Hamengkubowono, who is a Golkar Party member, said he believed the distribution of
the pictures would help boost support for Megawati.
The sixth strongest party in the next parliament, the Nation Awakening Party (PKB),
concluded a convention on Sept. 1 and said it would stay neutral and let supporters
freely vote for the candidate of their choice. PKB said that was in line with what its
patron, former president Abdurrahman Wahid envisioned.
Sources: ST 02/09, Reuters 01/09, JP 02/09
Read more news on the upcoming election at: http://www.infid.be/election_news.htm.
Regional News
Aceh
At least 421 separatist rebels have been killed since Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam was
placed under a state of civil emergency three months ago, an official has said.
Sr. Comr. Sayed Hoesainy of Aceh's civil emergency administration said on Aug. 31
that the rebels were killed during military operations since May 19.
Over that same period, 20 soldiers and police officers were killed, mostly in clashes
with rebels. Hoesainy also accused members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) of
killing 50 civilians over the past three months.
The Indonesian Military released a report on Aug. 18 stating that at least 1,159 rebels
had been killed in operations in Aceh during the past 10 months.
Source: JP 02/09
Abbreviations
AFP Agence France-Presse
AP Associated Press
JP The Jakarta Post
ST The Strait Times
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