Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – The National Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) are to partake in a joint training program next week to increase their ability to safeguard the country against internal security threats.
The plan was announced amid warnings from the government that next year's elections, forecast mass layoffs due to the financial crisis and recent attacks and riots in other countries could spark serious security threats in Indonesia.
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo Adi Sucipto said Friday the training program, which will run from Dec. 18 to 24 and include simulations, will increase the TNI's and the police's coordination.
"Learning from the Mumbai attack and the demonstration in Bangkok recently, we have noticed potential security threats that could take various shapes. Therefore, the training program is necessary to provide a sense of safety for all people, including foreigners," Widodo said after a Cabinet meeting.
Widodo said the President had been briefed about preparations for the training program during the meeting.
The program, Widodo said, would act as a deterrent to would-be troublemakers. "Political and security problems should not disrupt the elections," he said.
The TNI and the police each have about 350,000 personnel. Since the beginning of the political reform era in 1998, the National Police has been fully responsible for internal security affairs. The military can be called on to restore order in a state of emergency.
Indonesia will hold its legislative elections on April 9, 2009, and the presidential election three months later. A run-off presidential election would take place in September next year.
Election watchdogs have warned of conflicts between supporters of candidates, citing a number of regional elections marred by violence.
Fears have also been raised over the possibility of a worker uprising, as 2 million people are forecast to lose their jobs as the economic crunch peaks in mid 2009.
Early this month, the President warned the public against holding "unnecessary demonstrations" that could threaten political stability and ordered the police and military to take necessary measures to safeguard the country.
In response to recent mass rallies, Widodo said the government would only allow peaceful demonstrations and crack down on those that violated the law. "Democracy provides people with freedom of expression, but the way the freedom is exercised should not sacrifice public interests," he said.
Human rights groups have criticized the National Police and the TNI for their heavy-handedness in managing mass protests. The National Commission on Human Rights named the police the most frequent perpetrator of state violence. The National Police claims to be in a period of internal reform.