Security is basic need for stability, which is prerequisite for progress in terms of economic recovery and reform of all sectors, including democratic political system. The challenge is how to build national security and integration in a modern, democratic state Indonesia.
Under the New Order regime, in the name of stability and national integration, the New Order used repression. For the role it played as a tool of repression, the armed forces enjoyed almost unlimited privileges in politics as well as economic activities. The justification for the armed forces involvement in politics and economic activities is the so-called the dual-function doctrine (Dwi Fungsi ABRI).
After the fall of the New Order regime in May 1998, the blame for all of the problems this nation is suffering now is directed to the armed forces. The intellectuals, pro democracy movements and organizations once repressed by the old regime discredit the military and demand the military quick exit from political affairs and the trial of military officers involved in dirty repression.
Meanwhile, the new government has no focused agenda for reform, and for stability and security maintenance. The euphoria of democracy and multi-dimensional problems (i.e.: economic crisis, social fragmentation, inter-regional gap, law system damage, widespread corruption, etc.) lead to the House-the Government rivalry both at national and regional levels, demand for much greater regional autonomy even the threat of regional secession from certain provinces is getting louder, the breakdown of security, violent social conflicts in several areas, etc. Sense of security and confidence are very low which in turn lead to socio-political and national disintegration.
Quoting our chairman welcoming speech in one of the Institute event: “This is not an easy transition actually because Indonesia is suffering from multi-dimensional crisis, from economic crisis to national disintegration. Each crisis needs to be resolved urgently but unfortunately they are in fact abundant, complicated ones. The issue for us is how to select priority wisely for the crisis resolution. Besides other questions, democratization and national integration, for instance, need to be handled simultaneously. If we push democratization too far and too hard, national integration could be in danger. On the other way around, the maintenance of national integration using the state power could possibly harm democratization.”
Therefore, the restoration of Armed Forces role as legal violence manager (excluded from any political and economic activities), not as a source of power is an essential endeavor. In doing so, the government, responding to the civil society’s demand, issued the presidential decree on the separation of the state police from the armed forces structure. It is stipulated that the armed forces is responsible to defend the country and the police is responsible to maintain the internal security.
Another effort is to encourage disputed parties in mutually reach a solution which benefits the whole and overcome the differences among them, thus avoid anymore conflicts.