People's Interests, The Neglected Feature of The Reformasi. The Case of Indonesian Defense Diplomacy
Abstract: Law of The Republic
of Indonesia on the State Defense stipulates among others: the active role of
the Army in maintaining regional and international peace, defense diplomacy, as
well as incorporating people and othe resources in defending the country. The
inauspicious Indonesian defense diplomacy towards Singapore in the form of
Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) of 2007 planned to beef up both military
cooperation and mutual confidence. The planned joint training would exploit not
only Indonesian territories, but also affect people's livelihood and safety.
Utilizing people in the implementation exposes loopholes in the regulation(s)
of the state defense. Should government consult the concerned people? Indeed, people
were not consulted as the existing regulations sidestep people in the process
to reach an agreement in DCA. And that is one of the case of neglecting people
interest in the reformasi era!
Keywords: Defense
Cooperation Agreement (DCA)
Indonesia-Singapore, defense diplomacy, Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI)
(Indonesian National Armed Forces), people (rakyat), reformasi, State Defense
Author: Adrianus Harsawaskita
Journal Code: jphubintgg150002
