Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono came to power pledging to clean up Indonesia’s notoriously corrupt and brutal military and bring peace to the fractious country. According to Human Rights Watch (hrw.org), the ‘Indonesian government’s plans to reform military-owned businesses do not sufficiently address the human rights problems fuelled by the current system, […] in which the military’s independent financing undermines civilian control, contributing to abuses of power by the armed forces and impeding reform.’
Since Indonesia achieved Independence in 1945, military self-financing has become a firmly entrenched practice in Indonesia. The Indonesian military has relied on money-making ventures outside the government budget through a wide network of legal and illegal businesses, informal security alliances with entrepreneurs, and through corruption such as ‘mark ups in military purchases.’ A flawed response to budget constraints and corruption has resulted in the spread of these businesses beyond the control of the military’s central command.
There are many obstacles to reform. A distinct lack of transparency and accountability regarding military finance issues, and unreliable and incomplete data concerning military budgets and expenditure, continue to thwart efforts, however flawed, to reform the military.
Consequently, the Indonesian military has maintained its notorious reputation as being able to act with impunity as it commits acts of abuse and corruption throughout the Indonesian archipelago.
