Arientha Primanita, Ezra Sihite & Faisal Baskoro – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told the Indonesian military on its 66th anniversary that the government will continue to raise the defense budget.
"In the coming years, we will continue to increase the defense budget so that our military posture becomes stronger, and so the mission of upholding state sovereignty and safeguarding our territorial integrity can be undertaken in an effective way," Yudhoyono said.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the Armed Forces (TNI) anniversary, Yudhoyono said the new funds will help modernize the country's weaponry equipment and enhance the welfare of TNI soldiers, their families and civilian staff members.
The president said the defense budget will increase by more than 35 percent to Rp 66.4 trillion ($7.5 billion) in the draft budget for 2012. The funds will enable the armed forces to continue rejuvenation and modernization efforts, improving the quality of maintenance and the readiness of weaponry systems.
"Efforts to modernize, develop, replace and maintain weaponry equipment are very important to produce a TNI with a high deterrent capacity – an army capable of effectively conducting its operational duties," he said.
Yudhoyono also called on the military to work with the National Police and the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) to prevent and handle terrorism cases.
"Activate the TNI territorial command in safeguarding security in the regions," he said, referring to a military network system that extends all the way to the subdistrict level.
He said that although the police are responsible for security and public order, TNI should also help prevent terrorism and separatism, especially in the early detection and early warning stages.
Military intelligence, he said, should be active in this field. "The state should not lose and must win against terrorism," Yudhoyono said.
TNI should also collaborate with other national organizations and committees. "We need to step up our cooperation with the other components of the nation in overcoming potential challenges, including global warming, environmental pollution, pandemics, cyber crimes and the potential of foreign military aggression," Yudhoyono said.
Susaningtyas Kertopati, a member of the House of Representatives Commission I, which oversees defense affairs, said the TNI faced complex problems and must adjust accordingly, including through reforms.
She said that while there were still cases of soldiers perpetuating violence and human rights violations, she believes the incidents are not institutionally driven but rather are the acts of individuals.
"I am certain these human rights violations are mostly human errors and the deeds of some individuals, but they still have to be handled," she said.
Critics have said that while the military has reformed and distanced itself from politics, human rights violations continue to mire its image. Only a few of the perpetrators have been tried in court, critics say, and their sentences – issued by the military tribunal – are often very lenient compared to sentences issued in civilian courts.
Among the guests attending the TNI anniversary ceremony, which was held at army headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, was South Korean TV heartthrob Hyun Bin, who is currently on military duty.
Hyun Bin, famous for his role in the TV series "Secret Garden," wore a Korean Marine uniform at the anniversary ceremony and joined the South Korean military attache. The actor is in Indonesia to promote Korean defense industry exports.