"The involvement of TNI is a setback in the TNI`s reforms," spokesman of the Advocacy Division of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) Chrisbiantoro said.
The coalition of non-governmental organizations, consisting of KontraS, Imparsial, Maarif Institute, Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), Migrant Care, and Institute for Defense, Security and Peace
Studies (IDSPS), issued the statement in response to the Jakarta district military command chief`s pledge to disperse any labor demonstrators attempting to loot or block toll roads.
Chrisbiantoro said that the military`s involvement in safeguarding labor demonstrations without prior assessment of the condition in the field violated the law on the Indonesian military and
might result in an overlap in the responsibilities of the Indonesian military and police.
IDSPS Executive Director Mufti Makarim, meanwhile, said that the military`s involvement in dealing with the issue of labor demonstrations violated the spirit of TNI`s professionalism.
"I think that the policy goes against the spirit of TNI`s professionalism. I know that the law on the Indonesian military is aimed at encouraging the military to maximize its defense functions, rather than handling domestic security," he said.
He further said the TNI`s involvement must be based upon a political decision and designed to assist police in handling labor demonstrations.
Imparsial Program Director Al Araf said there would be no escalating threat to the state if workers staged demonstrations.
Therefore, it was not proper for the regional military command chief to have issued his statement.
"Police should protect workers. The TNI cannot get involved in the handling of labor demonstrations at the request of police because there must be political legitimacy from the President," he said. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
