combatting corruption: TNI leads by example
We originally planned to increase the salary of TNI soldiers in 2011, but we will try to speed up the plan to 2010
The Defence Minister's decision to fast-track salary increases for TNI soldiers is controversial, but also very wise.
The government has almost completed a vigorous process of stripping the TNI of its many business interests built up during the Suharto regime. These businesses helped make a lot of TNI generals very rich. But they also supplemented the meagre salaries of rank-and-file soldiers.
The government's decision to increase the salaries of TNI soldiers --- and not officers --- is a smart move. The TNI is run like a multi-national corporation, with hundreds of thousands of lowly soldiers dependent on rich and powerful generals.
Steps like this will loosen the grip of Suharto-era generals, leaving them to wilt away in their Pondok Indah mausoleums.
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