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The opportunism of defending the nation
It would hardly be the first time that the military has stoked up fears to justify their role as guardians of the nation’s security. In fact that was how Soeharto’s military dictatorship justified its rule for 32 years: the fear of communism.
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A sense of nationalism -- Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu puts a pin to one of Bela Negara (state defense) program recruits in an inauguration ceremony in Skouw-Wutung, at the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border, on Tuesday. (JP/Nethy Dharma Somba)
W
hen you think of art, what comes to mind? It could be anything and everything under the sun — but the military probably would not be the first thing you think of, right?
So I was intrigued when I received an invitation for an art exhibition held last Monday, which was opened by Defense Minister Gen. (ret.) Ryamizard Ryacudu. The exhibition was called “Bela Negara” (Defend the Nation) featuring 36 painters who displayed their works with various themes: human interest, religion, nature and some with nationalistic themes befitting the exhibition’s title. It was attended by other military figures such as Air Force chief of staff Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, the ministry’s secretary-general Vice Admiral Widodo and Defense University rector Lt. Gen. I Wayan Midhio. Luckily it was also attended by collectors and the painters themselves, otherwise it could have been mistaken for a military convention!
So why “Bela Negara” and why Ryacudu? Because that’s the name of his pet project. It’s a program created out of his and the Indonesian Military’s (TNI) concern over what they see as increasing disharmony of the nation, particularly following the rise of increased Islamic fundamentalism and also what they perceive to be the rise of leftist ideas. The Bela Negara program is thus a new initiative to instill and promote patriotism, nationalism and Pancasila (state ideology) values among the public.
Wait. Is this the Ryamizard Ryacudu who said that suspected communists deserved to die? And that the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) movement in Indonesia was part of a proxy war to conquer Indonesia?
It would hardly be the first time that the military has stoked up fears to justify their role as guardians of the nation’s security. In fact that was how Soeharto’s military dictatorship justified its rule for 32 years: the fear of communism.
Well, we know that the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) has historically been the arch enemy of the military since the early days of independence and even before. But excuse me, the PKI has been defunct for a while now, and even in the world there remain only five countries — China, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos and Cuba — who still claim to be communist. But Karl Marx would not be able to recognize his manifesto as in its original form, it’s dead. And when the Chinese go around the world, they’re not spreading communism, they’re expanding the market economy in one of its wildest forms. Duh.
As for the LGBT movement being part of a proxy war to conquer Indonesia—that’s about the silliest, most risible idea ever. OK, the military may be one of the most macho institutions in the world, but how come even after the United States repealed its “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy for its LGBT personnel in 2011, it remains the world’s strongest military force? Indonesia would be wise to look to the US in this regard.
