Indonesia Maritime Defense in Joko Widodo’s Administration: The Struggle of National Naval Force Upon the National Budget Expenditure by: Cynthia Sondang Romauli Sipahutar

Indonesia Maritime Defense in Joko Widodo’s Administration: The Struggle of  National Naval Force Upon the National Budget Expenditure

by:
Cynthia Sondang Romauli Sipahutar 
International Relations, Universitas Parahyangan (2011 alumni)

A. Introduction

The newly elected President of Indonesia had sworn in front of 237.641.3261 people on the inauguration day and made an astonishing pledge that he and his administration will conduct a new and contrasting view of foreign and national policy since the New Order. The President saw the desperate condition of Indonesia’s most tangible power, which are the ocean and the sea not being taken care of by the previous administrations for 47 years long. Indonesia’s point of view on building maritime potentials and forces is not as important as defensing the most priority on land. The constitution gave less statement about building and optimizing the maritime potentials. Therefore, naval national force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Laut) often struggles inside their bureaucracy and organization in managing the main weaponry system due to the limited budget per year. At almost every occasion, whether national or international events, President Jokowi mentioned Indonesia’s latest motivation to re-build the maritime power to become a maritime axis in the region. The naval national force from its Chief of Commander, Admiral General Marsetio, certainly have the most fundamental role in improving and developing the maritime defense. We all notice that Indonesia water has been one of the tormented water areas by transnational crimes, such as but not limited to transmitted illegal drugs, people smugglers, illegal fisheries, and excessive natural resources exploitation. Hence, it is not wrong in every word that the President need to step up and create quite controversial policy for Indonesia that had been a “too friendly” state in the world. After all of the range of forward views being stated, international community cautiously wait and see the implementation of Jokowi’s vision in maritime axis. Will his national budget be cooperative enough with the maritime policy, or will it only be a rhetorical talk shop in the latest administration?

B. Bridging the Minimum Essential Force Alongside the Naval Main Weaponry System

Indonesia main weaponry system is currently increasing due to the economic growth up to 5-6% per year into 96.7% from last year budget. The military, particularly naval national force, are deeply depending on economic improvement and foreign investors to assist the defense budget enhancement. Most of bureaucrats and governments take notice that guarding the country needs a maximum budget for national forces by economic improvement. Notwithstanding, the statement above proves that Indonesia is still under the decrepit method where “defense by prosperity” often hinder the development and establishment of maritime defense. The President need to revolutionize people’ mind into “defense for prosperity”. In acknowledging symbiotic mutualism principle, investors will invest their capital and help to build the national growth if only the national forces could keep the nation safe from every type of threats. If the President successfully convinces the entire nation to become a Cakrawati Samudera, then naval national budget will automatically fulfill the Minimum Essential Force in 2019 and so as other forces.

However, the national defense budget is not yet more satisfying even though the former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had boost the main weaponry expenditure significantly within 2014. The percentage of the national defense is less than 1% for each forces including the national naval force, which supposed to be more extravagant than others. If the President deliberately aware to maritime axis policy, he will need to count the necessity to purchasing at least 12 submarines in order to guard every chokepoints in Indonesia territorial waters. The role of submarines is extremely important for the discovery of natural resources that lay beneath the seabed and underwater surface, such as mineral resources and earth’s geothermal energy as alternative energy resources in the near future.4 Amphibious and anti-amphibious operations are accurate to gain maximum security due to the complex threats and hazards in coastal area in Indonesia. These will also affect the importance figure of more advance and professional marine officers fully equipped with sophisticated technology, such as the development of Ship-To-Objective-Maneuver (STOM), helicopters, and aircrafts with short take off-vertical landing (STOVL).

C. The Prospect Adjustment from Land Defense into Maritime Defense Approach

Land defense approach had been Indonesia’s national defense concept since the New Order regime reign into the surface after the so-called coup d’état by President Soeharto in 1967. The purpose in defending the land is none other than a denial to the true identity of Indonesia ancestors as sailors. It made the nautical culture vanished without leaving any heritage for the grandchildren, particularly in urban areas where the young generation have already being spoiled by the land environment. President Joko Widodo will need a strong political willingness to adjust Indonesian behavior and intellection towards the maritime power. Professor Hasjim Djalal, who is one of the history maker in forming Indonesia International Maritime Law to be recognized as archipelagic country under UNCLOS 1982, argued that Indonesia will not have to be anxious if the highest commander in chief have strong political willingness and esteem courage in reforming and re- constructing the maritime doctrine for Indonesia.

On account of that, the national naval force will no longer be the “step- children” of the country since the emerging policy will considerably rely on the development and professionalism of the institution. Indonesia defense principle of Sishankamrata (Total Defense System) ought to give more space for maritime defense since the urgency for improving the latest policy of the government. It means that every citizen elements should take apart in exteriorizing the policy through their own profession and field, including students by obtaining Indonesia nautical knowledge (Kebaharian), attaining micro investors, and optimizing maritime discoveries and research.

D. Conclusion

Indonesians has just sailed en route to their languishing vision for decades led by their “Captain” President Joko Widodo starting from 2014 until 2019. People across the world have longing to wait the achievement of Indonesian people to utilize its most foreseeable power by virtue of its 2/3 contained by water. Alongside the prospect to replace the land defense approach, the national naval force has the full mandate and obligation to secure prevalently from the very West (Sabang, Aceh) to the very East part of Indonesia (Merauke, Papua). Nevertheless, President Joko Widodo need to commit firstly in gaining the budget expenditure in order to reach Indonesia maritime prosperity.

Bibliography

Connie Rahakundini Bakrie, Observer: The Great Need of Defense Budget to Make Indonesia Shaft Maritime, Kompas, 9 October 2014

Indonesia Citizen, Statistic Central Agency of Indonesia, http://www.bps.go.id/tab_sub/view.php?tabel=1&id_subyek=12

Marsetio, 21st Century Sea Power, “Indonesian Sea Power”, Indonesia Defense University, April 2014, page 52

US Navy and US Marine Corps, Naval Operations Concept, 2006, page 28