Reform of Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI), some policy options.

Abstract

The experience gained by the Indonesia military, Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) during the fight for independence and the Guided Democracy period under Sukarno shaped its socio-political inclinations. The New Order regime anchored the TNI in the social, political and economic arenas. It also institutionalized the apparatus the TNI uses to perform its political coercion role. The fall of Suharto ushered a new era of reformasi. Similarly, the military rode on this wave and underwent self-driven structural reforms. However the leadership changes in civilian administration also hampered the reforms with varying levels of civil military relations affecting the process. This dissertation aims to show that the reforms have been short of professionalizing the military. Many sources of non-military influences continue to be enshrined in the military. This article will propose a two-pronged policy approach with numerous recommendations looking at eliminating the obstacles to achieving a thorough reform of the military.