INDONESIA: SBY USES INVESTITURE OF NEW TNI CHIEF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002032 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2016 TAGS: MASS MARR PREL PGOV ID SUBJECT: INDONESIA: SBY USES INVESTITURE OF NEW TNI CHIEF TO PRESS FOR FURTHER TNI REFORM Classified By: POLITICAL OFFICER RAYMOND RICHHART. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Indonesian President Yudhoyono February 13 swore in Chief Air Marshal Djoko Suyanto as the new commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) to replace General Endriartono Sutarto. Air Marshal Suyanto, the first Air Force Officer to hold the position, will assume command of the TNI February 20. President Yudhoyono used the occasion of Suyanto's investiture to review reform of TNI since 1998 and to reemphasize the importance of non-involvement of TNI officers in politics. Yudhoyono also outlined new priorities for TNI reform, emphasizing that the new TNI Chief should increase development of doctrines, improvement of education and training, modernization of equipment and weapons systems and other steps to improve the professionalization of TNI's personnel. Yudhoyono also emphasized the importance of respect for civilian authority and TNI observance of Indonesia's constitution and laws. End Summary. Sutarto Passes Reins to Suyanto -------------- ¶2. (C) Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono February 13 swore in Air Marshal Djoko Suyanto as the new commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI),replacing General Sutarto, who had held the position since June, 2002. Air Marshal Herman Prayitno was sworn in as Suyanto's replacement as Chief of the Air Force. Suyanto will formally assume charge of TNI in a Change of Command ceremony February 20; Prayitno took the reigns of the Air Force at a change of command held on February 15. Air Marshal Suyanto is the first Air Force Officer to command TNI, and only the second non-army officer; ADM Widodo was TNI Commander from 2000-2002. His assignment is in keeping with the spirit of the TNI Law passed in October, 2004, which advocated rotating the "Panglima" position among the three services. An academy classmate of Yudhoyono, Suyanto has a clean record and was an early promoter of TNI reform, collaborating with the late LTG Agus Wirahadikusumah in publishing a book outlining the way forward for TNI during the uncertain times after the fall of Suharto. The U.S.-trained Suyanto is open-minded, speaks excellent English, and welcomes opportunities to interact with the international community. He appreciates U.S. training opportunities and can be expected to seek every opportunity to engage with American forces. Although his Air Force background may limit his informal influence, senior Army officers have voiced support for the new Panglima and appear ready to work with Suyanto in furthering reform and professionalism of TNI. Yudhoyono Analyzes Past TNI Reform -------------- ¶3. (U) President Yudhoyono used his speech at the investiture to review reform of TNI since 1998. He noted that the level of TNI activity had been elevated in the years 1998-2003, with a high level and frequency of TNI deployments "because the country needed this." In 2004 and 2005, he recounted that the intensity of TNI activity declined, but remained relatively high, and TNI accomplished "significant and honorable tasks for the nation and country." As a consequence, however, TNI could not fully fulfill other tasks, such as education and training, modernization, and developing "proper authority" structures. Emphasizing that such shortcomings were not of TNI's making, he said that "we witnessed together during this vital period TNI's accomplishments of non-war military operations. We know that TNI faced separatism, dealt with security disturbances, and so forth in the duties they shared with the Indonesian National Police." Shift to Development Activities -------------- ¶4. (U) Yudhoyono called for the new TNI Chief and the service chiefs to develop doctrines, improve education and training, modernize equipment, machinery and weapons systems or other things to enhance the TNI's personnel. Regarding procurement to modernize equipment, SBY requested that purchases "be carried out in proportion to the capability of the government's budget." Yudhoyono, in a clear effort to centralize purchasing decisions under civilian control and away from the individual services, said that "the highest JAKARTA 00002032 002 OF 002 level of decision-making will come from the President and Defense Minister" for TNI procurement. He emphasized that the GOI must "follow mechanisms and procedures, carry them out transparently, with accountability and without fraud and also prioritize use of domestic products made by our defense industries before procuring from other countries." Yudhoyono also charged the chiefs to improve the welfare of their troops. "Objective and Soul" of TNI Reform: No Politics -------------- -- ¶5. (U) Yudhoyono reminded the audience that in October 2005 he had asked TNI to continue its internal reform "because TNI respects democracy." While TNI's reform "had been fruitful," Yudhoyono emphasized that it was not finished and should continue. He added that the "soul and spirit of the reform is TNI's withdrawal from political activities; TNI's return to its identity and professionalism; and increasing TNI's efforts to improve its posture and capabilities." He observed that "in this transition era there are still temptations for Generals, Admirals and Marshals to enter the political arena," but emphasized that "we cannot afford for this to reoccur." Yudhoyono cautioned that during elections, officers "should maintain their identity, be neutral, non-partisan and again free TNI from practical political activities because that is the objective and soul of reform." Political Decisions Required for Use of Force -------------- ¶6. (U) Yudhoyono stressed that officers "should obey state regulations, political systems and the democracy we adopted as stipulated in the 1945 Constitution," and TNI regulations should be redrawn to refer to the Constitution and applicable laws. He noted that the use of military power in war with other countries was "in the political domain" and the decision in the hands of the President and subject to approval by the House of Representatives. He emphasized that "it is not in TNI's authority to use its power to wage war with other countries," and when TNI received an order to act it is their duty to follow such orders. In other conflicts, Yudhoyono continued, "the law clearly states that military operations other than war, for example dealing with separatism and armed movements, require a political decision that will become the legal basis for TNI to carry out that fundamental duty." TNI Respect for the "Rules of the Game" -------------- ¶7. (U) Yudhoyono concluded by urging TNI to understand that by respecting legal authorities, "the system will run well and all sides will be responsible" in accordance with the law, and this constitutes part of TNI's reform. Yudhoyono noted this was "part of respect, obedience and TNI's efforts to position itself in the democratic process." He added that this was part of the democratic system and such "rules of the game" should not be viewed as "interference in TNI's authority." PASCOE