INDONESIAN STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

Wichai Chucherd

Country Profile 

 

Before European intrusions into the archipelago of 17,508 islands (6,000 inhabited) constituting the Republic of Indonesia, the land was home to a diverse array of cultures, civilizations, and kingdoms that had been influenced by Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic ideas, as well as indigenous beliefs. Then, Dutch imperialism territorially created Indonesia: with the exception of East Timor, it encompasses all the territories of the Old Netherlands Indies. The Dutch also brought Christianity to the land. Indonesia as an independent state was created in the 1940s by nationalists who sought cultural, linguistic, and social bases for national unity led by Sukarno. Facing ethnic, religious and social divisions throughout the archipelago, Sukarno failed to democratize the country. In 1965, the Indonesian Communist Party attempted to overthrow the government, resulting in Sukarno’s displacement from power and the rise of General Suharto to supreme power. Then Indonesia expanded to West New Guinea (Irian Jaya) in 1969 and East Timor (Timor Timur) in 1976. The fall of Suharto in 1998 led to an attempt to democratize the country again. This also led to the independence of East Timor and the fragmentation of the country.    

 

With 235 million people (2003) and 88 per cent of its citizens being Islamic, Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous state and the largest Islamic state in the world.  Indonesia is also a kaleidoscope of nationalities with more than 300 tribes and 250 languages and dialects. Its location between the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean which are the sea lanes cutting through the straits of Malacca, Sunda and Lombok, connects the Asia Pacific to Europe and the Persian Gulf, bringing energy and raw materials and providing an outlet for its manufactured exports. Indonesian geography with five main islands, two major archipelagos, and sixty smaller archipelagos causes difficulties in interactions of population, and produces Indonesia’s variations in culture and society. The total area claimed, including an exclusive zone, 7.9 million square kilometers, a coastline of 54,716 kilometers, and land boundaries with Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and East Timor totaling 2,830 kilometers, is too vast for Indonesia to administer and protect its interest.

   

The Republic of Indonesia comprises twenty-seven provinces, two special regions, and one special capital city district with the unicameral House of Representatives (500 seats; 462 elected by popular vote, and 38 appointed military representatives who will lose the privilege in the next election in 2004). The process of democratization in Indonesia has been difficult, messy, fragile and painful. The implementation of decentralization on January 2001 has increased local autonomy; the 357 districts of Indonesia have become key administrative units. The final outcome remains uncertain, and the country still risks the return of authoritarianism, which posts a serious threat to any genuine attempt to build democracy. There is resurgence of ethnic politics and conflicts, especially in deeply divided or plural societies. Competition for political power between politicians, the military, and religious groups also occurs regularly.        

 

Indonesia faces severe economic development problems stemming from secessionist movements and the low level of security. About 23 million people are unemployed (2002), and 27 per cent of the population are under the poverty line (1999). Indonesia’s external debt is US $131 billion (2002). 

 

Strategic Dynamics 

 

As the developing country which was proclaimed independent in 1945, then struggled for formal independence until 1949 before having the chance to develop the country, Indonesia has to face many challenges, which threaten the national interest. However, five aspects are important and need to be overcome first before going on to solve other problems in sequence. Internal conflicts need to be resolved as the immediate threat to the unity of the nation. Then political and economic structures have to be established as a basis of the country. The problems of terrorism, transnational crime, and border disputes also need to be solved.        

 

Internal Conflicts

 

There are separatist attempts and communal conflicts across the country accompanying the state’s endeavour to unify the ethno-linguistic diverse nation, which is a legacy from Indonesian historical contexts. East Timor’s success in breaking away from Indonesia stood as a model for separatist movements in Aceh and West Papua, which are pressing their claims more strongly than ever. Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM, the Free Aceh Movement) with member estimates ranging between 850 and 5,000, insists on its independence. In West Papua, the Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM, Free Papua Organization), which has fought for a West Papuan state since 1965, insists that Papua declared independence in 1961. There are also other groups, such as Satgas Papua and Papuan nationalists, who have been trying to separate and declare the territory independent from Indonesia.  

 

There have been vastly complicated conflicts between ethnic or religious groups across Kalimantan, in Central Sulawesi and in North and South Maluku. In Riau, which is the largest oil producing area, but one of Indonesia’s poorest regions, there was unrest caused by angry nationalists, who felt that local wealth does not benefit local people.

 

In the long-term, the separatist attempts and communal conflicts could harm the central government and lead to the collapse of Indonesia. The unity of the country will be destroyed and the status of state sovereignty will no longer exist. Mismanagement of the conflicts may cause fragmentation, as in the former Russia.

 

In the present, the internal conflicts have caused loss of many lives, displacement and increase in refugee. In Aceh, more than 4,000 people have been killed, and 70,000 Acehnese have had to move north and live in refugee shelters. In the violence in Maluku, 10,000 have died, and 500,000 have been chased from their homes and have become refugee.

 

The conflicts have also destroyed the Indonesian economy at national and local levels. They have caused insecurity in Indonesia; consequently, foreign investors lack confidence to invest. To deal with the conflicts, government has to pay a large amount of money. Unrest and conflicts, such as in Riau and in Ambon, have damaged infrastructure, accommodation, businesses and production such as oil production.

 

The problems of separatism and communal conflicts recently have decreased the international status of Indonesia. The country is considered as a potential failed state because it cannot anticipate the problems exactly and Indonesia is likely to collapse. This makes it difficult for Indonesian to play a role in the world community.

 

Political Transformation and External and Internal Pressure

 

The Cold War has led to new international regulations which are imposed as a single sustainable model for national success: freedom, democracy and free enterprise. Indonesia has to transform itself to the way that the international community, especially the United States, expects. However, the process of transformation to be a democracy in developing countries serves as a double-edged sword. On the one hand, democracy provides an opportunity to solve conflicts peacefully through constitutional means. On the other hand, transition towards democracy can create a course of fragmentation. 

 

Competition for political power has been destroying national interests. Politicians, military, religious groups, and ideological groups at both national and local levels are impelled by power struggles and deal-making. They have little time for consideration of larger matters of policy which will preserve their national interests. When Abdurrahman Wahid offered cease-fires and autonomy to rebellious regions, the military and both Islamist and nationalist parties were convinced that Wahid was destroying the country. Consequently, the armed forces and the police refused to support him and led to his replacement by Megawati Sukarnoputri. This created the situation bringing the country to the edge when the 35 million members of Wahid’s Muslim organization demonstrated and attacked the offices of rival parties. In the Megawati period, the economy remains in a parlous state, separatism is rampant, bombings are a daily occurrence, and the military has emerged politically stronger than in Wahid’s period. This competition will bring about the lack of the intention to solve the problems of the nation. It also may lead to civil war or a military coup as in the 1960s.   

 

The tensions between the central government and local governments have also increased to a critical point. Although the government has tried decentralization through federalism and autonomy, as in the Laws No. 22 and No. 25, the internal conflicts could not be solved. In contrast, decentralization has opened the possibility of generating new conflicts and exacerbating the old ones. Indonesia still lacks democratic institutions and practices, which are the basis of decentralization, and the legal institutions are still weak and corrupt. The military in the regions continues its influence, and civilian political parties lack the ability to guarantee civilian supremacy in politics and to consolidate democracy. This may cause separatism and the fragmentation of the country.  

 

Globalization, Economic Instability and Border Disputes

 

The power of globalization can be illustrated by the financial crisis in 1997. It caused economic instability in Indonesia. It is a challenge for the country to pay back its external debt, to develop the country and to restore its economy. Globalization has also led to economic competition in the period of chaos in the Indonesian economy. This has caused more difficulties for the country.    

 

Moreover, ethnic Chinese, only three percent of the population, control almost three-quarters of Indonesia’s wealth. Production sites create the income for Indonesia also are mostly located in local areas where conflicts between local and central government often happen. These will challenge the government in redistributing the wealth of people. Additionally, the problem of corruption has caused the country more economic difficulties. 

 

Instability in the country has led to the reduction of foreign investment. Although Indonesia possesses large amounts of natural resources, the lack of technology and capital and the awareness of environmental degradation have discouraged the use of its resources.

 

Economic instability has a effected the government’s ability to solve problems in the country. It has also caused people many difficulties in their lives, which may lead to social unrest.

 

Economic competition may cause Indonesia to have problems in relation to border disputes with its neighbours. The boundaries between Indonesia and the ten countries close to it are still not clear. Military conflicts could happen at any time.            

 

Terrorism and Transnational Crimes 

 

Indonesia’s territory is used as a base for terrorists, its people are often recruited, and its area tends to be an operational area for Islamic terrorists. As the world has accepted terrorism as a threat to international peace, Indonesia has been impelled to erase terrorists from its territory. This pressure has caused Indonesia a dilemma, facing high pressure from the international community, especially from the United States and its allies, or facing division of the country. Moreover, terrorists may cooperate with other groups such as religious extremists, separatists, and transnational criminal organizations to gain their common interest, such as independence or illegal business.    

 

Transnational criminal organizations, such as piracy, illicit drug trade, arms-trafficking, illegal gambling, people smuggling, fraud and corruption, money laundering, take advantage of Indonesia territory, especially maritime areas and inhabited islands, for their illegal business. These transnational crimes, especially maritime piracies, have caused insecurity in the region. They have also destroyed the regular economy of the country.  

 

Policy Options   

 

Indonesian National Interests, Capacities and Objectives

 

Indonesia’s strategic policy aims to maintain the security of the nation and its people, which is the most fundamental responsibility of government. To achieve this aim, Indonesia must be able to provide and sustain its national stability and to prevent or defeat any armed attack on Indonesia. Indonesian armed forces need to be able to do more than simply defend the country. Indonesia has to reestablish the unity of nation, to maintain its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to develop the country. Indonesia is still fragile, yet it has to engage and be engaged in many ways – political, economic, cultural and personal – with the countries in the region and the world beyond. The importance of the Indonesian geopolitical location and natural resources also attract involvement from outsiders. 

 

As a developing country which lacks abilities to do much, Indonesia has to seek help from regional and international communities. To work with others will support Indonesia to do more than it can do alone. Indonesia has to be realistic about the limits to its power, influence and capability. Therefore, Indonesia needs to define and prioritize the strategic interests and objectives as the following.

 

To ensure the defense of Indonesian territory from direct military attack is the most important long-term strategic objective. 

 

To foster the security and unity of the nation is the second strategic objective, which concerns major internal challenges that are threatening the stability and cohesion of the country.  

 

The third strategic objective is to guarantee political transformation in order to build a democracy guided by the wisdom arising out of deliberations amongst representatives, and committed to protecting basic human rights, social justice, and political freedom.

 

The fourth strategic objective is to restore the national economy in order to ensure the prosperity of the nation and the people. 

 

The fifth strategic objective is to promote stability and cooperation in Southeast Asia. Indonesia must work with others both inside and outside the region to preserve stability and cooperation in the region. 

 

The sixth strategic objective is to support global security, which is the task of the international community, especially the United Nations. 

          

Indonesian Strategy

 

To achieve our strategic objectives, Indonesia needs the involvement of our resources. Indonesia also needs help from the world community, especially the UN, the United States, other developed countries and our allies in ASEAN. Indonesia must work through cooperation, multilateral security forums and arrangements in our region and a network of bilateral defense and security relationships.       

 

Defending the Nation

 

The most important of Indonesian strategic objectives is defending the nation. Although it is not likely to happen, Indonesia has to prepare for an uncertain situation in the future. Indonesian armed forces will work together with the armed forces in the ASEAN countries to build up confidence and understanding. Through this cooperation, the conflicts between Indonesia and its neighbors over border disputes will be solved by joint border patrols, and also by economic cooperation in the disputed areas.  

 

Indonesia must have a good relationship and cooperation with the US and other middle-size power nations. However, the relationship and cooperation must be based on Indonesian interest. To be an ally of the US and try to gain benefit from the US is the appropriate strategy. Indonesia must also build understanding and a good relation with Australia, which is a middle-size power who is a close neighbor.

 

Indonesia cannot ensure that major armed conflicts will not happen in the future. It is also not possible to ensure that Indonesian allies will help to defend the nation in time of need. The Total Defense Strategy, which needs the unity of all components of the nation to defeat physical challenges coming from outside, is an appropriate strategy for Indonesia, which has less high technology.

 

Fostering the Security and Unity of the Nation

 

Indonesia must pursue its objective of fostering the security and unity of the nation by integrating all its efforts to restore our integrity and stability. Indonesia should also cooperate with regional and international organizations, and NGOs to stop the violence in the Indonesian region. 

 

The problems of separatism and communal conflicts cannot be solved without the cooperation of all parties. The implementation of Indonesian decentralization Laws No. 22 and No. 25 needs the involvement of central and local government, intelligence agencies, development agencies, police, and armed forces. The conditions creating separatism in each region must be identified carefully. Negotiations between central and local government must be conducted in order to search for their common interest. The local population has to be the centre of strategic objectives. Development agencies must plan to meet the needs of local people. In armed conflict areas, police have to protect people and resources from the reach of insurgents. The military should be prepared to support other government agencies in the case of attack by armed insurgents. Government agencies must also work with regional and international organization agencies, NGOs, and the human rights agencies that exist in the areas.

 

Diplomats must try to create international understanding of the situation in Indonesia and seek cooperation in solving the problems of separatism and communal conflicts. The results of Indonesian fragmentation may create many small countries that could not survive by themselves and may thus create more poverty as well as spreading insecurity to the regional and international communities. Diplomats must also try to persuade the countries which may be involved in supporting arms and money to the insurgent groups to cooperate in solving the problems.

 

Ensuring Political Transformation

 

Indonesia’s aim is to guarantee political transformation in order to develop a democratic country. In the short-term, the transformation will create some tensions, but in the long-term, it will support Indonesia as a platform to assure future prosperity. Every component of Indonesia must work together to implement the process of transformation. Politicians, both central and local, must develop themselves to be representatives of people who work for people’s interests. Political parties must compete ethically when seeking political powers. Armed forces have to be military professionals who keep a distance far from politics. Interest groups, such as religious groups, and working groups, should engage in politics peacefully. Programs should be conducted to build up the understanding of democracy, such as education programs, seminars and forums. The next election in 2004 should be run freely and fairly. The process of democratization will take a long time. It needs patience from every component of Indonesia.

 

Indonesia should seek international understanding on the slow process of transformation based on the diversity of the population and the difficulties of the geography. Indonesia must also seek help from the international community, especially from the US and Australia, to build up the necessary foundations for democratization. 

 

Reconstructing the Economy

 

The objective of restoring the national economy will be reached by redistributing prosperity and managing the natural resources effectively. In the vertical redistribution, national interests in local areas, such as oil, gas, and timber production should be reconsidered on the basis of balancing local interest, national interest and the need of arid areas which lack natural resources. In the horizontal redistribution, the gap between the rich and poor among the people needs to be decreased. The problems of corruption need to be solved at the same time. Effective laws on economic redistribution and anti-corruption with implementation strategies need to be established. 

 

Indonesia must reconsider its own economic development approach. Free trade has to be applied according to the international norms. However, to reconstructs the economic system in the country, an approach which is appropriate and could serve the interests of Indonesian must be created and implemented. Capital from foreign investment must be considered together with the cost of environmental degradation and social disruption. The shares of interest between the foreign companies, local government and central government also need to be just. Since the implementation of Indonesian Law No. 25, the competency, accountability and transparency of local government and local people have more become important in dealing with foreign company.        

 

Promoting Stability and Cooperation in Southeast Asia

 

Indonesia should pursue its objective of promoting stability and cooperation in Southeast Asia by working through a network of multilateral and bilateral relationships with the countries in ASEAN and outside ASEAN, especially the US and Australia. Indonesia must cooperate with the nearest neighbors to solve the problems of terrorism and transnational crime which use the regional and Indonesian territories to run their illegal businesses. Projects for cooperative patrols along borders should be conducted to prevent terrorist and transnational activities. Joint intelligence between the countries in the region should also be established. This will lead to the opportunity to overcome the problems of terrorism and transnational crime, which benefit from globalization by operating their business across borders and using new technology in their business.

 

Indonesia will cooperate with the US and Australia, which are more competent and developed than Indonesia. The cooperation in technology and intelligence with those countries will help Indonesia to track and anticipate the terrorist and transnational criminal organizations.

 

Supporting Global Security

 

To support global security, Indonesia will contribute its efforts to UN peace operations based on Indonesian capability and its interests. Indonesia will also implement the international norms which are generally accepted.  

 

In cooperation with the world community, Indonesia will have a chance to present itself as a peace lover. This will create understanding of the situation in Indonesia, especially the situation of separatism, communal conflicts, terrorism and transnational crime. Indonesian armed forces and civil officers who are involved in the UN operations will also have a chance to improve their abilities through association with other parties in the operations. These abilities will be useful in solving problems in the country.

 

 Sensitivities and Pitfalls

 

There are some sources of danger which Indonesia should be aware of. The cooperation of all parties on solving the problems is critical. Only unity of coordination can defeat the problems of communal conflicts, separatism, terrorism and transnational crime.

 

In the short-term, political transformation should be considered carefully as it tends to cause fragmentation of the country. If the process develops too fast, the people do not understand the process, and they do not participate in the foundations of democracy.

 

Informal intervention from outside, such as from media, NGOs, and foreign projects in local areas, should also be monitored. As misunderstanding of these interventions may cause more problems, Indonesia needs to work together with them carefully.

 

The roles of the US and Australia in the region are also critical for Indonesia. Indonesia needs to deal with them appropriately.  

 

Implementation Guidance 

 

Strategic tasks for the TNI

 

Defending Indonesia

 

The primary priority for the TNI is to maintain the capability to defend Indonesian territory from any credible attack. The TNI needs to be able to defend Indonesia without relying on other countries’ troops. Indonesian strategic geography, the vast size of the population, and the comparative advantages in natural resources all dictate that Indonesian defence should focus on people and the use of unconventional warfare approaches.       

 

The Total Defence Strategy is the key to defending Indonesia. Because of the strategic geography, no incursions can occupy all of the Indonesian territory. This will provide a chance for the TNI to cooperate with Indonesia’s people in order to operate unceasing warfare to counter-attack the aggressor. This means Indonesia needs a fundamental unification strategy. A key role would be to ensure the preparation of people’s war and secret bases. The role of air and naval forces is to deny hostile ships and aircraft approaching the Indonesian archipelago and provide maximum freedom of action for land forces. The land forces will launch counter-attacks to repel any hostile beachhead on Indonesian soil and provide maximum opportunity for the TNI and militia to prepare people’s war against the incursion. The preparation of this strategy will also help Indonesia to create and maintain the security and unity of the nation. 

 

Fostering the Stability and Integrity of the Nation

 

The second priority is to have defence forces able to make a major contribution to the stability and integrity of the nation. A situation such as that in Aceh and West Papua, in which armed insurgents are operating, needs the involvement of the TNI. Military operations other than war, such as counterinsurgency, joint border patrols, protection of population and resources, are the most likely types of operation that the TNI might need to undertake. However, the experiences of East Timor, Aceh and West Papua recently have taught the Indonesian armed forces the important lessons about the use of forces in internal conflicts. Key lessons and their implications for the TNI include legitimacy, political objectives, command and control, and unity of effort.

 

The involvement of the TNI in armed separatism conflicts needs legitimacy of the operation and of the local government and local people, where applicable. Worldwide legitimacy and acceptability also need to be considered. This makes demands on the training and personal quality of the TNI personnel to understand the rights of the people, and to understand and work together with media, NGOs and other actors concerning the conflicts. 

 

The TNI needs to understand the strategic aims, and preserve the political objectives for solving the problems of separatism. The use of military force will be conducted when it is necessary and when other means could not be used effectively. The operations should be coordinated by civilian authorities, so that unity of effort from all parties may be guaranteed. The TNI personnel also have to realize that the problems of separatism are not based on physical war, but on psychological and ideological conflict. Therefore, the only way to win the conflicts is to win the support of the people in the areas.       

 

Supporting Law Enforcement and Emergency Management

 

The third priority for Indonesia’s forces is to support the civilian authority in law enforcement and emergency management. The TNI will be called upon to undertake a number of regular or occasional tasks in support of wider national interests. The most important of these is in critical contribution to combating terrorism, overcoming the problems of transnational crimes, and restoring order in the communal conflict areas.

 

TNI Special Forces are a highly respected for their counter-terrorist operations. TNI intelligence units cooperate with Indonesian neighbours and the US to track terrorism and transnational criminal activities. TNI air and naval forces also conduct joint patrol with neighbours along the borders.

 

The TNI will support the civilian authority to enforce anti-terrorism law. TNI intelligence capacities could help in policing operations dealing with terrorism.

 

The TNI, especially the air and naval forces, contribute significantly to the security of the Indonesian coastlines in relate to engagement with the illegal activities of any transnational criminal organizations, such as drug, arms or human smuggling, illegal immigration, illegal fishing, quarantine evasion and other intrusions on Indonesian sovereignty. 

 

The TNI provides its capacities to assist the civilian authority in emergency management. The TNI air and naval capabilities assist maritime search and rescue, undertake navigational work and also support fisheries management. The TNI land forces help to anticipate any natural disasters, such as forest fire, land slide, drought, and flood.

 

In the case of communal conflicts and other social unrest which the civilian authorities cannot deal with effectively, the involvement of TNI may be needed. However, the operations have to be conducted under the direction of the government.        

 

The procedures to be followed in using the TNI support domestic law enforcement, emergency management and the rights and responsibilities of TNI members. Such duties have been clarified and made more workable with the Law No. 3, 2002 concerning TNI tasks in military operations other than war. 

 

Supporting Political Transformation and Economic Reconstruction

 

The fourth priority is to support the nation in the political transformation and economic reconstruction process. Indonesia could not transform its politic system and restore its economy without the cooperation of the TNI. The structure, function and military ideology should be reexamined in order to suit the new political and economic environment.

 

The TNI has to remain apart from political concern at both national and local levels and make itself a professional military organization. The TNI’s political function, which was operated until the fall of Suharto, has to be discontinued in reality.

 

The TNI has to solve the problem of corruption among its members, especially TNI personnel who was connected with any companies.      

 

Contribution to the Asia Pacific Regional Security and Global Security 

 

In addition to these core tasks in support of Indonesian strategic objectives, the TNI will contribute its capabilities to maintain peace and security in the Asia Pacific Region and worldwide.  

 

Indonesia will support peace operations under the UN authorities. The scale of the contribution would depend on a wide range of factors, such as Indonesian interest and the readiness of the TNI. A major Indonesian contribution to a UN peace operation would more likely involve land forces than air and naval forces. The experience of military operations other than war within the country will provide the government with a range of options to contribute to low intensity operations including peace-enforcement and peacekeeping.    

 

Capability Priorities for the TNI

 

In order to achieve these strategic tasks, the TNI will maintain and further develop integration between the TNI and Indonesian people, especially in rural areas. The TNI will also integrate and balance joint forces that can provide two key sets of capabilities.

 

First, Indonesia will maintain land force capabilities that can defend Indonesia together with militia and Indonesian people by using counter-attacks against any aggressor. These forces will also have the ability to support the civilian authorities to provide and maintain the stability and integrity of the nation, and also to enforce law and order and manage the country when in crisis. The land forces are also important in the processes of political transformation and economic reconstruction because the forces is strongly involved in political and economic systems.    

 

Second, Indonesia will maintain maritime capabilities that can defend Indonesia by denying any air and sea approaches to any credible hostile forces. They can also help the nation in emergency management.

 

Capability Development Principles

 

In order to achieve the TNI capabilities, the following principles act as guidelines.

 

Integrated Capability

 

The TNI needs to integrate everything in the nation that could contribute to its ability to defend Indonesia including physical components such as personnel and their training, intelligence, doctrine, national infrastructure, people and terrain advantages; together with psychological components, such as unity of the nation, and independent minds that do not surrender to any aggressor. Indonesia has sought to consider how these two components can best work together to provide an integrated set of capabilities to defend the nation.

 

Operational Flexibility   

 

The TNI should not plan narrowly; its policy should be flexible, especially in strategic and operational levels. The TNI needs to provide a set of capabilities that will be flexible enough for the government to benefit from a range of military options in order to maintain and preserve Indonesian interests. The TNI also needs to prepare to defend Indonesia by using both conventional warfare and the people’s war. 

 

Interoperability

 

Indonesia needs to work together with other countries in the region and in the world to maintain and preserve regional and international security. Therefore, the TNI have to develop its capability of interoperability. However, this will be limited by cost and other factors based on the national considerations.  

 

Fully Developed Capability

 

In the next decade, Indonesia cannot do must to upgrade its physical capabilities, which are mostly based on high technology. The nation has to improve the quality of life of the people and reconstruct its infrastructure. Therefore, the TNI must concentrate on the psychological component and the advantages of its strategic geographical position. The number of people and the vastness of the country will help Indonesia to win the people’s war against any aggressor. This will need the armed force to maintain cooperation with Indonesia people and civilian authorities.  

 

In the case of physical capabilities, the TNI does not need to develop its highest capability. Indonesia has an opportunity to prepare its full capability before any aggressor attacks the country. However, the tasks other than defending Indonesia do not allow the TNI to build major new capabilities; it needs several years to replace or upgrade key platforms and systems, and to train the people to operate and support civilian authority and help the people. Therefore the TNI will maintain in a fully developed form the capabilities that would be necessary to achieve the key tasks apart from those for defending the nation.

 

With this in mind, the TNI will aim to establish a sustained long-term program (five to ten years) to develop and upgrade the forces progressively to achieve the capabilities for defending Indonesia. This long-term program will also prepare a short-term program (one to five years), which will develop and prepare the forces to achieve the other key tasks. This will retain the required level of capability without the need for crash programs.      

 

Operational Concurrency

 

The TNI should be able to do more than one thing at a time, but it cannot do everything at once. Therefore, Indonesia will take up one major operation at a time. The TNI will sustain the forces in the operation to achieve their aim. This will need an effective long-term approach to recruiting and retaining personnel and other resources.

 

People and Technology Focus

 

As a developing country which is facing political and economic transformation, Indonesia cannot maximise the opportunities offered by the information technology revolution. The TNI needs to focus on developing the power of people to defend and work for their country. This needs a program to maintain the relationship between the TNI and the Indonesian people. Training the civilian to go to war when it is necessary is also required. However, the TNI needs to use technology in order to improve the capability of its personnel and of the Indonesian people also.

 

Cost-effectiveness

 

The TNI needs to provide the maximum capability at the lowest possible cost. Indonesia must understand its own strengths and weaknesses. The TNI must concentrate on the unity of the people, the people’s war, and asymmetric warfare more than high technology warfare.     

 

Conclusion  

 

This Indonesian Strategic Framework explains the options for government decisions about strategic policy over the next decade, and sets out a plan for the development of the TNI. The options are based on Indonesian history, its geography and demography, political and economic contexts. It also considers the Indonesian strategic environment, and points out that Indonesia needs to overcome the problems of internal conflicts, to transform its own political and economic systems, and to participate in solving the problems of terrorism and transnational crimes.

 

As a policy option, Indonesia should aim to solve its own problems in its territory first before it can protect itself from the threats from outside. Indonesian internal stability is very important for the country in this decade. However, Indonesia has to prepare to do more than this. Defending the country needs a long-term plan, so development of the military capability needs to be prepared. Indonesia also needs to support its region and the global community in maintaining peace and security.

 

In implementing the policy, the TNI must develop itself to be ready to defend the country and support civilian authority to regain the stability and integrity of the nation. It also needs to be ready to contribute its capability to the worldwide. This will force the TNI to develop its land and maritime capabilities by following the capability development guidelines as stated above, such as integrated capability and cost-effectiveness.

 

As a policy option, the population and civilian authority need to be consulted at both national and local areas. A public discussion paper needs to be produced to pose the key questions about the future of defence needs. The consideration of the views of Indonesian people will create a more useful strategic policy for the TNI.            

 

Bibliography:

 

Buku Putih Dephan, Department Pertahanan, Jakarta, [WWW document], http://www. dephan.go.id/buku_putih/bab_v.htm (in Indonesian).

Defence 2000: Our Future Defence Force, Defence Publishing Services DPSOCT010/2000, Canberra, [WWW document], http://www.defence.gov.au /whitepaper/docs/WPAPER.PDF.

Menon, Rajan, ‘Another Year of Living Dangerously?’, The National Interest, Fall 2001, pp. 101ff.

The National Security Strategy of the United States of America, September 2002, [WWW document], http://www.comw.org/qdr/fulltext/nss2002.pdf.