TNI ANNIVERSARY SPEECHES EMPHASIZE REFORM AND

UNCLAS JAKARTA 012776 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MTS SECDEF FOR OASD/ISA/AP/IPSEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM ID SUBJECT: TNI ANNIVERSARY SPEECHES EMPHASIZE REFORM AND DEMOCRACY ¶1. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono and Commander-in-Chief (Panglima) Air First Marshal Djoko Suyanto urged the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) to continue along the path of reform as the TNI celebrated its 61st anniversary on October 5. The speeches exhorted the TNI to complete its transformation toward modernization and professionalization while upholding human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law. PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO'S SPEECH ¶2. Praising the TNI for its patriotism and dedication to the defense of the country, President Yudhoyono said that the challenges of the future would require development and modernization of the TNI toward "a more professional, effective and credible" entity. This development and modernization should be done gradually, in line with the state's financial capabilities, toward achieving "the required minimum power" necessary to defend the country, including dealing with contingencies and preventing possible threats. At the same time, scientific and technological advances were changing the nature and form of modern warfare and TNI doctrine, organization, tactics and techniques must evolve to respond to these changes. ¶3. Acknowledging the imperative for economic growth as the essential ingredient underpinning for the country's overall progress, Yudhoyono exhorted the TNI to support the country's democratic institutions, the rule of law and good governance. Indonesia needed to present a positive image to the world to underpin the constructive role it wanted to play internationally. "All elements of the nation, including the TNI, should participate in and contribute to the achievement of a developed, resilient and prosperous Indonesia," he urged. ¶4. Noting that Indonesia's UNIFIL peacekeeping contingent would soon depart for Lebanon, Yudhoyono hailed the contribution as a demonstration of Indonesia's desire to play a role in settling conflicts in the Middle East. He exhorted the peacekeepers to do their best in the assignment and convey a positive image, in line with Indonesia's past peacekeeping contributions. Yudhoyono also thanked the TNI for its services to Indonesia in disaster relief and humanitarian assistance. PANGLIMA SUYANTO'S SPEECH ¶5. Suyanto also commended the TNI for its role in disaster relief operations and the approaching deployment of the 850-man peacekeeping taskforce Garuda XXIIIA to Lebanon. The TNI could also take pride, he said, in its ongoing internal reform, which involved establishing policies and practices consistent with the Military Reform Law of 2004 and Indonesia's democratic order. Similarly, the TNI had nearly finished the process of winding up its business operations as a major step on the road toward becoming a more professional military. At the same time the military must assist in combating illegal logging and illegal fishing. ¶6. The professionalism that the TNI sought to attain, Suyanto stated, was a synergy of the professional ability of its personnel and technological optimalization, allowing the TNI to perform its defense role without neglecting human rights, democratic principles and the interests of the civilian environment in which the TNI operated. COMMENT ¶7. The speeches were given considerable coverage in the media, which highlighted precisely these themes. PASCOE