The horrific torture of two Papuan men by military officers last year caught the nation by surprise and sullied the image of the Indonesian armed forces. A military tribunal has now found the men guilty of insubordination and sentenced them to between eight and ten months in jail.
Although torture charges were never formally laid, the images widely distributed on YouTube were plain to see. Such actions cannot be condoned by civilized society and must be punished.
Whether the three men should also be charged in a civilian court is a moot point. They were serving officers and they have been dealt with according to military procedures. In all likelihood, they will be discharged from the military once they complete their sentences.
The TNI (the Indonesian Armed Forces) has tried to clean up the tarnished reputation it acquired during the Suharto government when opponents of the government were routinely abducted and beaten.
Those dark days are over but some elements of the armed forces remain rooted in the past. Having said that, it would not be appropriate to tar the entire military with the same brush over this one incident.
In the past 10 years, the TNI has reformed in many ways and now stays out of politics. We no longer have serving generals sitting in the House of Representatives or running ministries.
The military, it can be said, has returned to the barracks and intends to stay there for the foreseeable future.
Since independence, the TNI has provided numerous leaders through all strata of society and remains today one of the best grooming grounds for future leaders.
The actions of a few rogue soldiers should not damage the image of the entire institution. We should recognize the contributions the military has made to nation building and support its reform efforts.
The fact that it did not attempt to cover up the actions of the three soldiers is indicative of the changes under way, even if the punishment meted out was less than satisfactory.
Given Indonesia's vastness, the TNI has an important role to play in national defense and in keeping the peace alongside the police.
This role must not be abused if the military is to win the trust of the public. It must push on with its efforts to convert itself into a professional fighting force.
The military is an integral part of the social fabric. Its members are often called in to help in times of natural disasters and catastrophes.
Often they undergo personal hardship to be of assistance. We must recognize this sacrifice and role of the TNI even as we hold the institution to the highest standards.
We should not forget the torture incident but nor should we allow it to dominate our discourse and shape our view of the institution.