Pontianak, Kompas Online
Army Chief Of Staff, General Endriartono Sutarto emphasizes,
the Commander Security Recovery Operational Command in Moluccas
has to adhere to the Authority Civil Emergency State, i.e.
Governor Saleh Latuconsina. The same applies to TNI, during
security operations they also adhere to the authority of civil
emergency state.
The Governor of Moluccas, also the Authority Civil Emergency
State has full authority to deal with several security issues in
his district. He is assisted in this task by TNI and the
police," the Chief of Staff said on arrival at Supadio
Airport, Pontianak, Monday (27/5). He added, that the operational
unit's setup is to enhance the security recovery efforts into a
more effective operation. The Chief of Staff was in West
kalimantan to open the Joint Excercizes of Kekar Malindo 2002
which combines TNI forces with the Tentara Diraja of Malaysia. The
28th Kekar Malindo will be held in Singkawang starting this
Tuesday.
It is not certain who will be filling the post of the Security
Operational Unit's Commander, but the name of Division II Kostrad
Commander, Major General Djoko Santoso (not Djoko Susilo as
mentioned by Kompas yesterday) is widely mentioned as the head of
the operational unit.
Effectiveness
Meanwhile, the House's Commission I member of the Awakening
Nation's faction, Chatibul Uman Wiranu holds the opinion that a
commando unit's effectiveness is not determined by the Commander
of the Security Operational Unit in Moluccas. It is determined by
the Authority Civil Emergency State's effectiveness itself.
Therefore, debates about the commando should be centered at the
Authority Civil Emergency State itself.
"However, since the process towards a replacement of the
Moluccas Authority Civil Emergency State would depend on the
district's Parliament, but, no signs seem to be moving into that
direction, I understand that central government is offering a
solution by dispatching a two-star general to the area,"
Chatibul commented on the appointment of the Commander of the
Security Recovery Operational Unit for Moluccas, a major general,
Monday in Jakarta.
According to him, at least two problems will surface when the
Moluccas Province has a Security Operational Unit. First, is the
Authority Civil Emergency State politically and operationally
prepared for overseeing this unit. Second, is the Moluccas Civil
Emergency State ready to follow the strategies outlined by the
Commander of the Security Recovery Operational Command.
"This should develop some tension in the Moluccas Civil
Emergency State since it was unable to coordinate TNI and the
Police. As to instructions in the field, the Moluccas Civil
Emergency State should be ready for decisions taken by the
Commander of the Security Operational Command. A psychological
problem will raise its head since it encompasses
authority<" he said.
Chatibul said that Commission I made queries to the TNI Chief
Commander about the appointment of a two-star general to head the
Security Recovery Operational Commando in the area.
In the meantime, Commission I member of the Reformation
faction, Djoko Susilo, is of the opinion that the appointment of a
two-star general in command of the security commando in Moluccas
seems to be connected with a coordination problem with which the
civil emergency state appears to be grappling. The problem is far
more basic covering several aspects related to social, economy,
religion and justice.
" We in the House of Representatives should be more
sceptical, will this development improve or worsen our condition.
Yesterday, when everything seemed to suggest that a conducive time
has arrived, this condition suddenly changed overnight. Our
planners should not focus on the military aspects of the action
without observing the problem in Ambon which is linked to other
issues," said Djoko Susilo in Parliament.
Djoko fears that the condition in Moluccas will deteriorate
even more with the appointment of a two-star general which
indicates a larger and massive concentration of troops. "I,
therefore, hope that the TNI Chief Commander will instruct the
Commander of the Security Recovery Operational Commando to give an
explanation to Commission I of the House," said the Youth
Chairman of Muhammadiyah. No military emergency state Vice
President Hamzah Haz stressed that a structural change in the
Civil Emergency State does not move at all towards a state of
military emergency. Restructuring is done to enhance the mechanism
in a condition of Civil Emergency which so far, had been far from
being effective.
"Take yesterday, that was the Civil Emergency in
operation, it was not effective, was it? Then we were asked to
make an evaluation. Now, a new policy has been made up that is
still related with the Civil Emergency state," Hamzah told
reporters after a national dialogue about saving the wood industry
and Indonesian forests at Hotel Sahid Jakarta on Monday.
Restructuring will not change the Civil Emergency State in
Moluccas, according to Hamzah. "There is no military
emergency state at hand. The Civil Emergency State is getting
support," he said.
Meanwhile, TNI Commander Central Military Police, Major General
Sulaiman AS, arrived Monday noon in the city of Ambon. According
to Sulaiman who was with the Commander Military Police Military
District XVI Pattimura, Lt. Colonel Iran Saefuddin, his visit is
related to collecting straight information from the Military
Police Military District XVI Pattimura Command since they know the
area and mapping conditions of the Moluccas. He further said that
there was no special agenda in relation to the visit this time.
From the agenda Sulaiman was scheduled to meet Governor M.
Saleh Latuconsina, the Commander Military District XVI Pattimura
Brigadier General Mustopo, and the Head District Police, Brigadier
General Soenarko DA and a visit to the Military Police Quarters.
Other than that, Sulaiman was slated for a visit to the former
barracks of the Mobile Brigade in Tantui. (*)
