[Nasional-m] Why paramilitary groups flourish in Indonesia

[Ambon]

The Jakarta Post
Nov. 25, 2002

Why paramilitary groups flourish in Indonesia
Mohamad Surya, Chairman Central Board Indonesian Teachers' Association
(PGRI), Jakarta

Paramilitary groups are nonmilitary groups set up by particular individuals,
organizations, institutions or groups that adopt patterns resembling
military behavior in all their activities to pursue certain needs and goals.
Although they are nonmilitary, their activities are, more often than not,
based on military patterns, finally developing into what could be called a
militaristic culture.

A militaristic culture is a manifestation of behavior by nonmilitary groups
based on a way of thinking, action, attitude and feelings that resembles
military behavior. Paramilitary groups with a militaristic culture identify
themselves with patterns related to military procedures in all activities,
which at times gives the impression that they are more militaristic in
character than the real security forces.

In this context, everything is manifested in various forms and patterns such
as the organizational structure (command, troops, units, corps, strategies,
logistics, equipment, etc.), military symbols (uniforms, ranks, medals of
merit, symbols, auxiliary instruments, etc.), attitude and actions such as
speech, appearance and personal relationships as well as thinking patterns.

The development of paramilitary groups has been driven by the need of
society for behavioral patterns that are characteristic of the military such
as discipline, obedience, aggressiveness and alertness. These groups adopt
patterns of military behavior, for example security guards, people's
defense, task-force units and troops complete with military-like symbols and
equipment.

As long as these groups adhere to the prevailing laws and function
effectively in compliance with current regulations, their activities will be
favorable and constructive in value, in a complementary, supplementary and
substitutive manner, to efforts to establish security and order. What often
happens, however, is that it takes the wrong form or becomes out of control
resulting in various problems, constraints and disturbances.

The patterns of behavior of paramilitary groups and their militaristic
culture constitute a certain psychological phenomena called identification
and imitation; the military being the source to fulfill certain
psychological drives. Identification is a process of putting the self or a
group in a particular, desired situation while imitation is a type of fraud.
In identification and imitation, there will be an internalization of the
various aspects of military behavior in individuals or the group concerned.
Later these individuals and groups make this behavior part of themselves
until this militaristic behavior is a part of their persona. In general,
youngsters are interested in identifying themselves with, or imitating
military behavior.

Militaristic behavior represents one way to channel the urge to find and
discover one's identity through a military image that creates the impression
of someone being heroic, charismatic, strong, ready to fight, courageous and
so forth.

One of the most prominent military characteristics adopted by the
paramilitary groups is aggressiveness, which is manifested by attacking
others for a particular purpose either physically or verbally, directly or
indirectly, individually or in groups, reactively or proactively and
actively or passively.

In terms of the goals, there are two kinds of aggressive behavior: Hostile
aggressiveness and instrumental aggressiveness. In hostile aggressiveness,
the purpose of aggressive behavior is to damage or cause loss to the party
under attack. Usually this behavior will surface when there is an action
that offends the dignity and respect of an individual or a group. In
instrumental aggressiveness, aggressive behavior is intended, among other
things, to gain attention and to show superiority. These two kinds of
aggressive behavior may produce adverse results but can also generate a
favorable outcome in certain conditions.

Paramilitary behavior and a militaristic culture are formed through
interaction with the environment, whether it be within families or in
schools as well as in the greater community. Some things that may give rise
to aggressive behavior are: 1. An experience of frustration or
disappointment due to a failure to achieve a certain goal, for example
education, occupation, position and recognition. 2. A particular position or
condition that will make someone assume paramilitary aggressive behavior
with a certain method and goal. 3. Behavior in the home toward children that
sets a bad example such as violence, rigidity, indifference, harassment,
neglect or a poor religious foundation. 4. Negative influence from peers. 5.
Unfavorable physical and nonphysical conditions such as slums, overcrowding,
lack of hygiene, lack of food and certain medicines and other physical
constraints. 6. Lack of role models such as politicians, leaders, parents,
teachers and so forth presented through the mass media that should otherwise
provide a good example. 7. Insufficient control over the laws and the
implication of this control in the use of certain military symbols.

The fundamental thing is how to control paramilitary behavior and
militaristic culture in a legal manner and in a way that is acceptable to
society and complies with prevailing norms. All this must be attempted to
prevent the negative impact and to take advantage of the positive aspects of
paramilitary behavior. In this context, a psychological and pedagogic
approach should be used, coupled with improvement in the socio-economic
order in efforts that involve all concerned -- symbiotically, systemically
and synergistically.

Some efforts which may be made in this context are: (a) improvement in
social and economic life, including the creation of job opportunities so
that the unemployment rate can be reduced and the labor force can be
channeled productively; (b) the development of patterns of education that
are broad and holistic; (c) enhancement of the quality of religiosity and
surrender to God through quality religious education; (d) channeling of
aggressive behavior into useful activities (e) consistent law enforcement,
coupled with role-modeling from all parties in a social environment that is
orderly, disciplined and clean (f) to present more selective and educational
news and other information through the mass media.

The writer also lectures at the University of Indonesian Education (UPI),
Bandung in West Java.