Asia Times: Goon squads move in as Indonesian army loses clout


	May 20, 2000	atimes.com

Southeast Asia

Goon squads move in as Indonesian army loses clout
By Kafil Yamin

JAKARTA - They wear military style uniforms and move in the manner of people who should be feared. Since Indonesia's new administration was inaugurated last year, they have been omnipresent, ready to jump in and defend the country's leaders and parties in power at a moment's notice.

In the last few months, however, there has been growing wariness over these self-styled guardians of Indonesia's top officials.

Indeed, as the military continues to lose clout, these ''civilian guardians'' seem to be stepping in the security vacuum and not a few people are questioning their right to do so, especially now that intimidation has become among their tactics.

Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono has even been prompted to say, ''Why should we tarnish the newly found political culture that is based on civilian manners by adopting such militaristic or paramilitaristic approach?''

Earlier this month, for example, hundreds of members of the Gerakan Pemuda Ansor, the youth group under the giant Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), stormed the offices of the Jawa Pos daily to protest a story it had run on alleged corrupt activities of NU executives.

The paper had reported that a 35 billion rupiah ($4.37 million) transfer in funds had been made by the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) to a non-government organization linked to Hasyim Wahid, brother of President Abdurrahman Wahid. But the daily, which was quoting Tempo magazine, apparently slipped and instead named NU chair Hasyim Muzadi as being in on the deal.

The Jawa Pos also reported that State Minister of Investment and State Enterprises Empowerment Rozy Munir, also an NU executive, received bribes amounting to 10 billion rupiah ($1.17 million), plus a Volvo sedan, from state officials.

In response, Gerakan members clad in military style clothes took over the offices of the Jawa Pos - the largest newspaper in East Java - for a whole day, causing the daily to forego its edition for the next day. It was also forced to print an apology on its front page for seven consecutive days and to promise that it will build a $30-million mosque in East Java.

Technically, NU has a separate security unit, Banser, which also acts as guardian for the National Awakening Party (PKB). But the incident involving Gerakan has sparked calls for the dismantling of all the political parties' security units and civilian guards. ''They should be dissolved,'' says House Deputy Speaker Muhaiman Iskandar. ''Or at least they should take off their military-style uniforms and act more like civilians.''

Meanwhile, the Independent Journalist Alliance, Media Consumer Institute, Surabaya Legal Aid Institute and the Surabaya Women Advocacy Forum have issued a joint statement condemning the action against the Jawa Pos. ''We demand that NU executives apologize to the public and media consumers for demonstrating a culture of violence,'' said the joint statement. ''Such conduct would encourage militarism and halt the democratization process.''

The role of such party security personnel used to be limited to ensuring smooth proceedings of their respective organizations, escorting leaders to functions and events and ushering guests to their seats. But after several political parties gained power following the elections last year, their ''guards'' have taken on a quasi-police persona - minus official appointments.

Even the security detail of Wahid has been taken over by the civilian guards.

What is worrisome, say some observers, is that the police and the proper authorities have not attempted to intervene during occasions when party security units crossed official lines and threw their weight around.

In Medan, North Sumatra, no official stepped in when a local House member was summoned recently and interrogated by civilian guards for allegedly taking bribes during the mayoral elections there. The interrogators belonged to the Satgas - the local acronym for security unit - of the Indonesia Democracy Party-Struggle (PDIP) led by Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

''There is a common view among the police and the military that the civilian guards are supporters of the ruling groups,'' says Eky Syahruddin, a senior member of the Golkar party, explaining the seeming reticence of authorities regarding the actions of such security units. ''So they have a legitimate role of acting like security personnel.''

''Besides,'' he adds, ''the military and policy are being cornered for various power abuses. Their credibility is on decline. They seem to be avoiding conflicts with groups linked to large parties or the ruling groups.''

But the party security units appear to be testing the patience of many people by their often high-handed ways and rough treatment of those they perceive as enemies of their bosses. Observers say some civilian guards have made it a point to go after those who dare criticize party leaders and threaten them. Members of the media, foreign and local, have also complained of being handled roughly by civilian guards.

Psychologist Komaruddin Hidayat indicates that there may be some wisdom in Speaker Iskandar's suggestion for the guards to at least get rid of their military get-up. According to Hidayat, there is a correlation between civilians who wear such uniforms and their behavior that tends to be ''militaristic''. He also says that the penchant for such clothing hints of ''our preference (for) the military approach, force and violence as effective ways to deal with our affairs''.

Warns Hidayat: ''If this phenomenon is left to go it alone, it will be counterproductive to the reformation agenda.''

(Inter Press Service)

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©1999 Asia Times Online Co., Ltd.