TNI Anticipates Algorithm Tyranny

ANTARA/MUHAMMAD ADIMAJA

Indonesian Military (TNI) is being called upon to rescue people in Palu city and Donggala regency, Central Sulawesi, following a devastating tsunami, soil liquefaction and earthquakes.

Ahead of its 73rd anniversary on Oct. 5, the Indonesian Military (TNI) is being called upon to rescue people in Palu city and Donggala regency, Central Sulawesi, following a devastating tsunami, soil liquefaction and earthquakes. The TNI, which works hand-in-hand with other government officials, communities, volunteers and benefactors, mobilizes the main weaponry system to restore conditions following major devastation by the fury of natural malignancies that claimed hundreds and possibly thousands of lives.

However, the spirit of the TNI\'s dedication to carry out military operations aside from war seems to not be maximized because of constraints in the limited number of major weapons (defense equipment) system. Therefore, the idea of Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto was good when he presented his vision and mission as a candidate for TNI commander in the House of Representatives at the end of 2017, not to limit in an absolute way the differences between TNI function in military operations for war and military operations other than war. This is caused by the fact that non-military threats can also have very apocalyptic consequences.

However, in a global perspective, the TNI must have the prime ability to maintain state sovereignty. Since its establishment, such awareness had been proclaimed by one of the founders of the TNI, Gen. Oerip Soemohardjo, who said that the state was obliged to have and build a (strong) military. He cautioned, ”aneh suatu negara zonder tentara” – it is very strange if a country is able to stand without the military that supports it.

The visionary insight is increasingly urgent due to the escalation of global competition. The Enonomist\'s special report, "Reinventing Liberalism for the 21st Century", (September 15-21, 2018), assumes that the reality of a world, which is dominated by liberalism, democracy, obliges countries to have a strong military to guarantee values, philosophy of life, and sovereignty from the threat of other country\'s territorial ambitions.

The failure of the League of Nations to maintain peace, which resulted in World War II, was caused by the absence of military forces which could prevent the military power of countries controlled by fascism, such as Germany (Adolf Hitler), Italy (Benito Mussolini), and Russia (communist regime).

The maxim has long been promoted by war strategist Carl von Clausewitz, in that a country that wants peace must prepare for war, si vis pacem para bellum. It has to be kept in mind too that the war must win, but the main philosophy and purpose of war is to defeat the enemy to achieve peace. Opponents are not to be destroyed, but only to be defeated.

It is mandatory for the TNI to utilize the technological revolution of war in increasing its professionalism. Therefore, changes in defense patterns and strategies are needed. The level of escalation in exponential technological progress will lead to technologicy-based war. There will be changes in the duration of

time, space, and precision in the war strategy. The war strategy which is based on mass and prolonged mobilization seems to no longer be relevant. What is needed is a strategy, which is correct and is supported by a reliable defense posture and structure.

The role of the TNI today also needs to anticipate the consequences of the technological revolution, namely the emergence of the phenomenon of tyrannical rulers. This despotic power is constructed through an algorithm scheme based big data, which highly abundant with a high level of diversity; and is able to handle the processing, storing, and analyzing of a large variety of data and very fast acceleration rates. Therefore, it will give a more complete and comprehensive picture.

This indication by Yuval Noah Harari, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century (2018), is called digital dictatorship. He said that digital technology would be very useful for the welfare of society. However, in the hands of a very ambitious person it will cause a deadly disaster. A tyrannical political ruler can expand to other countries by creating robots through an algorithm program. This regime can also strictly control citizens, who are emotionally unhappy with their leaders.

With a biorytmic bracelet, the ruler can control and punish citizens who are fed up with seeing his picture. Robot soldiers nullify emotion, empathy and human values. Their loyalty is absolute to their master\'s orders. In war, even though killing an enemy is legitimate, the rule of engagement regulates that the behavior of soldiers is not arbitrary.

The route to increase TNI professionalism might begin in stages by implementing the idea of the Joint Defense Territory Command (Kogabwilhan). In essence, it integrates active deterrence, prevention and defense strategies. The posture of the TNI\'s deployment of forces is carried out by developing an integrated structure among the forces that coordinates the military base of each force in line with the need to maintain defense territories. Its main function is to anticipate the threat of state sovereignty.

Since the TNI\'s professionalism agenda is a necessity, an internal consolidation of the TNI is needed. This very difficult task should not to be disturbed by blind political ambitions. The way is that there is no need for the political elite to eagerly attract retired officers in their camps, and also those who are still active. Long live TNI, happy 73rd anniversary. J KRISTIADI Senior Researcher, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)