“Future Navy Development”: Uneasy process

On 31 July 2006, Chief of Indonesian Navy, Admiral Slamet Seobijanto outlines the plan for the development of Navy capabilities. The plan is actually restating what have been revealed last year on the “green water navy” capability project.

This plan is crucial to secure entire Indonesia archipelago from different kind of risks and threats. So far, limitations of equiptments is among the main hindrance. However, to achieve the plan it is far from reality due to financial constrain. Development of Navy and other forces will depends on the success of national economic recovery. Otherwise, it just a dream.

Related aspect that needs attention is the reform of acquisition process –integrating all acquisition through Ministry of Defence (Departemen Pertahanan) will be one of the key factor in promoting democratic governance of defence forces.

Last year, Minister of Defence Juwono Sudarsono has issued the package of regulation called “Integrity Pact –Pakta Integritas” to reform and streamlining the process of military acquisition. To operationalise this regulation, there is needs of strong commitment from the three brances (AD, AL, AU) and Mabes TNI to uphold the principles of governance in the process acquisition of military hardware (alutsista) in a democratic based political system.

As a reference: see my entry on “green water navy capability” that I posted yesterday. ©2006/31/07 Riefqi Muna

Indonesia aims for ‘green water navy’ capability

Indonesia aims for ‘green water navy’ capability

By Riefqi Muna JDW Special Correspondent
London

Chief of the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) Admiral Slamet Soebijanto has outlined plans to develop the service’s overall capabilities.

Earlier this month Adm Soebijanto reiterated his intention to implement a major restructuring of naval forces. This would serve as the prelude to a broader development programme unveiled three years ago – an internal plan known as the ‘TNI-AL Blueprint 2004-2013′.

Adm Soebijanto previously stated that the long-term aim was to establish an effective ‘green water navy’ by 2020.

“A green water navy represents a level of sea power higher than that of a brown water (or coastal) navy but below a full blue water navy,” he explained in an internal document.

The proposed restructuring would see the TNI-AL come under a single command known as the Panglima Armada RI, which would be established in Surabaya. Under the current structure, there are two independent fleets.

The restructuring is aimed at making the navy more flexible and responsive in protecting Indonesia’s vast territorial waters, together with three vital sea lines of communication. However, no timetable has been released.

Sources said the delay is due to funding constraints. Efforts to synchronise with army and air force restructuring plans may also be a factor in order to avoid internal conflict over resources.

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Note: I wrote this report for JDW 27 June 2005. However, the contains remain relevant for Indonesian security discussion.

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Indonesia: Needs More Standing Forces for the UN Peace Operations

To response the new war in Lebanon, Indonesia calls for immediate ceasefire. It was also reported that Indonesia will prepare a battalion for the UN peacekeeping operation in Lebanon if needed.

Indonesian has actively sent its military (and police) personnel’s for the UN peacekeeping for many years back UN Peace Operation in Congo and Sinai. Since then it has regularly send the troops to contribute to the UN operations in many places. Regionally, Indonesia sends its largest component to Cambodia during the UN initiative to bring peace and democracy in Cambodia war. In addition, there has been substantial peace support operation in the Southern Philippines few years ago.

Currently, according to the latest report fro the UN Peacekeeping Operations (30 June 2006) reported that Indonesia is in the ranking of 44 in providing troops and police for UN peacekeeping for the total of 208 personnel. It is below Guatemala (216), Bolivia (231) and slightly higher than Burkina Faso (174) personnel’s. While, traditionally, the largest suppliers of peacekeepers are Bangladesh (10,310), Pakistan (9,793), India (9,054) and Nepal (3,516) officers.

So, despite of its involvement in the UN peace operations, Indonesia never able to send substantial number of troops to the UN operations. Indonesian troop’s contribution t o the UN is below Ethiopia (2,771). This is due to the fact that Indonesia does not have standing force that deployable any time when the UN needs Indonesian contributing for PKO.

Looking to this reality –it is time for Indonesia to build Peacekeeping Centre PKC (or whatever the name) so it will have standing force that ready on call if the UN needs support. The Indonesian constitution is clearly stated that Indonesia will have to contribute to international peace and security.

The creation of PK-C will give many benefits for Indonesia and international community: (1). It is Indonesian contribution to promote world peace; (2). Good for professional technical expertise in conducting peace mission, PKO; (3) experiencing with interaction with multinational forces at operational and tactical level; (4) as a mode of Indonesian contribution to humanity; (5). Provide better training and experience for the troops; (6) lastly, is an image branding for Indonesia in International arenas.

In this situation, to strengthen and improve the Indonesian contribution to PKO, it needs political decision to establish Peacekeeping section in Indonesian armed forces. The establishment of PKC will help Indonesia future international relations and in turn it will also change the orientation of military of being inward looking into more outward looking to participate in global peace and security. ©Riefqi Muna: 30/July/2006

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Handbook of the Sociology of the Military, by Guiseppe Caforio

Guiseppe Caforio, Handbook of the Sociology of the Military (Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research). New York: Kluwer Academic Press, 2003. ISBN: 0-306-47295-3

[Review] This book is very useful reference for those who study and have interest on military studies or civil-military relations in general. The book is comprehensively covers many area of the military organisation and society. Never before has there been so extensive a collection of what has been thought, said, and written about the sociology of the military. This accessible handbook is the first of its kind to delve into the sociological approach to the study of the military. This book is compiled of documents coming from various researchers at universities around the world as well as military officers devoted to the sector of study. Covered in this volume is a historical excursus of studies prior to contemporary research, interpretive models and theoretical approaches developed specifically for this topic, civic-military relations including issues surrounding democratic control of the armed forces, military culture, professional training, conditions and problems of minorities in the armed forces, an examination of the structural change within the military over the years including new duties and functions following the Cold War. This book is ideal for scholars of the subject as well as those coming to the sociology of the military for the first time. [Amazon]