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Home Minister Tito is betraying the soul of Reform
It is disappointing, at least so far, that Tito is accommodating the interests of the political elites by allowing active military and police officers to fill the vacant regional head posts.
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Home Minister Tito Karnavian speaks at a press conference related to the government's preparation for the 2020 simultaneous regional elections in Palu, Central Sulawesi on July 17, 2020. The regional elections will take place in December involving 270 regions across the country. (Antara/Mohamad Hamzah)
H
ome Minister Tito Karnavian has a golden opportunity to write his name in the history of Indonesia, not only as one of the country’s most intelligent police generals, but more importantly, as a statesman who has the guts to preserve the nation’s commitment to civilian supremacy. So far, there are indications Tito will squander this chance, but hopefully, this will not be the case.
After living under two dictators for 53 years, Indonesia could pride itself on becoming the world’s largest democracy in 1998, after India and the United States. Nowadays, however, there are concerted efforts involving the political elites to return Indonesia back to a dictatorship. They, for example, have questioned the necessity of a direct presidential election and the direct election of regional leaders. They refrain from aggressive campaigns, but their (aborted) attempts to extend the term of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo show they will continue to press for their goals.
In the same vein, the political elites are resurrecting the military's dual function, which was abandoned in 2000 amid the sweeping reforms. It is disappointing, at least so far, that Tito is accommodating the interests of the political elites by allowing active military and police officers to fill the vacant regional head posts. Acting regional heads will take the helm of 272 provinces, regencies and municipalities this year and next year until after the simultaneous regional elections in November 2024.
Seven governors, including Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, 76 regents and 18 mayors will end their five-year terms in 2022. In 2023, 17 governors, including West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and East Java Governor Khofifah Indra Parawansa, 115 regents and 39 mayors will leave office and be replaced by acting officials.
Tito is playing with fire and it will be damaging to his reputation. He appointed Brig. Gen. Andi Chandra As'aduddin, then the Central Sulawesi head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), as the acting regent of West Seram in Maluku.
The debate among lawmakers, civil society organization activists and government officials in social and mainstream media about Tito’s decision to allow active military and police officers to become acting regional heads has insulted our common sense. It is not just because those who support Tito do not respect the rule of law, but they seem to be taking advantage of the mass replacement of regional heads to revive the military's (and police's) dual function, which typified Soeharto’s New Order.
The 2002 Police Law and the 2004 TNI Law ban active officers from holding civilian posts, and most recently, the Constitutional Court has confirmed that active officers should retire before assuming regional head posts, which are civilian jobs.
