Establishing the TNI’s Identity

The internal reform of the Indonesian Military (TNI) can be described as relatively the most effective in almost 25 years of reform in the country.

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO

Bravo Unit 90 troops after the departure ceremony for the Indonesian Nationals (WNI) evacuation team to Sudan from Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta, Monday (24/5/2023).

This is noticeable among others in the image rating of the TNI. Kompas survey results in February 2023 showed that 86.5 percent of respondents felt that the TNI had a good image. The rest comprised 3.7 percent providing a poor-image answer and 9.8 percent having no idea or abstaining.

The TNI received the highest rating compared with other institutions, which are the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the National Police, the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the prosecutor’s office, political parties, the Regional Representative Council and the House of Representatives.

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The TNI’s good image, evident since several years ago, is the result of the TNI’s internal reform, which has so far been guided among others by Law No.34/2004 on the TNI. Through the law, the TNI not only has given up its socio-political role, but has also established its identity as the people’s soldiers, national soldiers and professional soldiers.

As time went by, not everything was ideally available to support the TNI’s reform. An example is the budget allocation. In 2023, the Defense Ministry allocated a budget of Rp 134.32 trillion (US$9 billion). Although the amount is the largest compared with those of other ministries, the budget is only around 0.8 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). The figure is far from ideal, which should be around 2 percent of the GDP, and still below those of the other ASEAN countries, such as Singapore with about 3 percent of the GDP and Vietnam with 2.3 percent of the GDP.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Defile of the main tools of the TNI's weapons system on Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara, in a series of commemorations of the TNI's 77th Anniversary in Jakarta, Wednesday (5/10/2022).

The limited budget gives rise to problems, including the modernization of the primary weaponry system as well as the welfare and promotion of soldiers. The threat to state sovereignty continues to grow. For instance, the war in the future relies more on artificial intelligence (AI) that creates radar-proof technology and unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UAV).

Amid these conditions, adjustments are indeed needed so the TNI and existing resources can be more optimally put into operation to respond to prevailing challenges. In this case, measures like a revision of the TNI Law may be adopted.

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However, what should be ascertained is that the revision is truly for the purpose of responding to challenges and resolving current problems without imposing negative effects on the achievements already made. Such things need to be answered, such as discourses about budgetary support and the TNI’s disinclination to be under the Defense Ministry’s coordination. Also the discourses suggest that active soldiers occupy more positions in ministries/institutions.

Deliberative discussions are required to ensure that the steps taken are really the best ones. This is important because the Indonesian nation is in dire need of the TNI with its even firmer and more established identity. There should be no backward moves in this context.

This article was translated by Aris Prawira.