Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Banjir Ambarita & Yeremia Sukoyo – The new chief of Indonesia's armed forces was sworn in on Tuesday following approval by the House of Representatives.
Gen. Moeldoko, who was proposed by the president to replace the outgoing chief Adm. Agus Suhartono, assumes his duties at a time of increased public scrutiny for the Indonesian Military (TNI) following high-profile cases of abuse of power, friction with the police and human rights violations.
Having garnered the approval of all factions in parliament, Gen. Moeldoko was sworn in by the House in an official ceremony. "Do you agree to appoint Gen. Moeldoko as the new chief of the military?" the leader of the plenary session Priyo Budi Santoso asked. The question was met with a chorus of approval.
Moeldoko, who was appointed chief of staff in May this year, has now made history with the fastest progress through the ranks of the Indonesian armed forces to reach the top.
The country's new military chief promised to overhaul the management system of the armed forces, heralding the need for a properly integrated system, while also espousing the need for commitment to improving professionalism within the forces.
He was subjected to a fit-and-proper test that included a question and answer session, before his predecessor was officially dismissed by the House.
"The House also offers its appreciation regarding the achievements and positive appraisal towards the military chief's performance," said Tubagus Hasanuddin, deputy chairman of House Commission I, which oversees defense, foreign affairs and intelligence. "The House approves the appointment of Gen. Moeldoko as chief of the military."
Tubagus expressed his gratitude towards the leaders of the House, members of House Commission I, the public and the press for their inputs and attention throughout the selection process.
Papua police conflict
A number of high-profile conflicts between the police and the military have occurred in Indonesia in recent times.
On Monday, just a day before the House approved Moeldoko's appointment, a brawl broke out between military and police force members in Fakfak, West Papua, that resulted in two people being injured.
A spokesperson from the local military command Col. Lismer Lumban Siantar confirmed the event. "There had been a misunderstanding, which resulted in a fight between members of the military and police," he said.
The incident reportedly occurred when a member of the Fakfak Police, who was on duty at the port, tried to search a member of the Fakfak military command.
"When a member of the police frisked an Army private by the name of Yohanes, there was a misunderstanding. First Brig. John Numberi of the police then hit Yohanes with the head, causing a cut wound," Lismer said.
While on their way to the police station to revenge of the incident, the military members attacked a police officer by the name of Akbar who was a passenger on the back of a passing motorcycle.
"The member of the police who was attacked had been drunk, he was also shouting which apparently sparked anger among the military members, he said.
Lismer said the situation had been brought under control immediately. "The head of the district police and the local military commander immediately approached the area and asked the members to end the fight and all agreed to do so," he said.
The fight followed other incidents by members of both institutions earlier this year.
Abuse of power
In March, soldiers attacked and set a police station on fire in Ogan Komering Ulu, South Sumatra, after one of their members was allegedly shot by a member of the police. The military have also been condemned by human rights organizations for alleged abuse of power.
Earlier this year, members of the Army Special Forces, known as Kopasus, entered the Cebongan Prison in Sleman, Central Java, and gunned down four detainees.
Investigators said the motive of the killing had been revenge, as the four detainees had earlier been charged for killing a Special Forces member three days earlier.
Improved IT needed
Speaking at a separate event on Tuesday, the outgoing military chief Agus called for improved information technology in the Indonesian military as it plays a key role in assisting the institution in important decision making.
"This is what causes many governments or institutions to spend millions or billions of dollars to obtain the right information about anything related to potential security threats," he said in Jakarta during the signing of a memorandum of understanding with media group MNC, which will provide military command bases in remote islands and border areas with access to television programming.
According to Agus, the ability to provide an institution with information was a key factor in a successful defense system. "In the military doctrine, information is an integral part of commands and control, which are key in every operation," he said.
As the military prepares to welcome a new leader, the government has also moved forward to strengthen the nation's defense forces by equipping the Army with AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the United States in a deal worth $500 million.
"With the aim of strengthening defense power, we will prepare the Apache Squadron as an attack helicopter which is a part of the Army," said Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro in Jakarta on Monday after a meeting with the US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.
Additionally, Indonesia and the United States will be co-hosting a counterterrorism exercise under the Asean Defense Ministers Meeting Plus framework in the Indonesia Peace and Security Center area in Sentul, Bogor.
The training, which involves 18 nations, will be the first to be held in the Asia Pacific region.
According to Purnomo, the joint training will contribute to improving professionalism in the military, in line with the Indonesian government's efforts to modernize the military's primary defense equipment.