Jakarta – The Indonesian Military and the National Police have been told by the House of Representatives to stop arguing over the national security bill.
House Speaker Agung Laksono said Tuesday that the military and police needed to stop quarreling as their job descriptions and positions were determined by the President and the House, as stated in the Constitution.
"The rift must be stopped because it will not be productive and could lead to clashes between soldiers and police officers in the field," he said.
Agung said the reform of the defense and security fields would go on as the House and government planned to deliberate many more bills on the topic.
The bill, being prepared by the Defense Ministry, has been rewarded with strong protests from the police, who say its substance is contradictory to the reform agenda.
In a hearing with House Commission III overseeing legal, legislation, human rights and security affairs last week, National Police chief Gen. Sutanto expressed opposition to the bill, which gives the military authority in dealing with national security.
The bill also places the police under the Home Ministry in the same way in which the military is currently under the aegis of the Defense Ministry. The police is currently under the direct control of the President.
Contacted separately, Defense Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Edy Butar-butar said the draft bill would soon be submitted to the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.
Meanwhile, chairman of Commission Trimedya Panjaitan has called on the Justice and Human Rights Ministry to look into the bill and synchronize it with all existing laws and regulations on defense and security affairs.
"Currently the House and government are deliberating a bill on military tribunals and will prepare two more bills on national intelligence and paramilitary forces," he said.
"Both the military and police should accept civilian supremacy, which aims for an internal reform in the military and improved police professionalism," he said.
A member of House Commission I overseeing defense and foreign affairs, Effendi Choirie, also called on the military and police to accept civilian supremacy and respect the constitution.
"With both the military and police under ministries, the top posts in both institutions will no longer be political posts but career jobs.
"Both the chiefs of the TNI and the National Police will no longer be included in the Cabinet list or take part in Cabinet meetings. They will focus on improving their own forces' professionalism."