Musical Worlds of Yogyakarta

7. Armed Forces

7 Armed Forces A key feature of the modern state is its monopoly of the legitimate use of violence, with its military and police forces the main instruments (Pierson 1996; Cohen and Service 1978). Military institutions are therefore central to the constitution of the bureaucratic field. On the other hand, the idea of a ‘cosmopolitan soldier’ is more difficult to entertain. Their careers are premised on being prepared to violently defend or expand the ideals or strategic interests of particular states. Yet military personnel in many states undertake humanities studies, travel the world, and in leisure time may gain a broad appreciation of cultural diversity. With the rise of the Indonesian nation-state, its Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI, Indonesian Armed Forces) has played an important but often controversial role in Indonesian politics. The heroes of the anti-colonial revolution established and built up TNI. During the period from 1959 to 1965 however, TNI extended its political influence to the point of becoming what Munir (2003:71) called an ‘octopus institution’. Through the New Order period, TNI further extended its direct involvement in politics, through guaranteed seats in parliament and positions in local political structures, often abusing human rights in the process.1 Militarism on Java itself is not a new phenomenon, a fact illustrated by the role of violence in ‘traditional’ Javanese culture. The dagger (kris) stored, ever ready, behind the back, as well as the prevalence of violent episodes in the wayang, demonstrate that ‘Javanese culture’ is not just about politeness (Boon 1990). Central Java also has longstanding links with TNI, and in the early post-Soeharto years the rise of militant youth and ‘terror’ wings of groups such as Laskar Jihad and Gerakan Pemuda Ka’bah (GPK) threatened and sometimes carried out violence both locally and in regions such as Maluku. TNI was implicated in these events, with various army and 1 Jun Honna (2003) provides an important analysis of shifts in civil-military relations in 1990s Indonesia. | Musical worlds in Yogyakarta 144 ex-army officers suspected of coordinating provocateurs (Violence in Ambon 1999; Hefner 2001). At the same time, calm and goodwill also presided in the city of Yogyakarta. Many groups were ambivalent towards TNI, and student and street-arts groups were active in anti-violence campaigns. By many accounts, the Sultan had successfully banned on-duty armed forces from entering the city centre. I rarely saw individuals or groups in official military or even police uniform, despite the regular presence of roving party political campaigners, some of whom were themselves led by men in quasi-military fatigues. In the midst of changes in which the Reformasi movement had brought to a head attempts to expose and discredit large sections of TNI, Central Java remained home to a number of Jakarta-controlled military bases and training institutions. I will discuss music performances that took place at two of these. While musical dimensions of a modern nation-state’s armed forces often consist of formal marching bands and high-precision processions (Bannister 2002), the examples in this chapter featured campursari and musik jalanan respectively. CAMPURSARI at an army battalion A Tombo Sutris campursari performance was held to commemorate the thirty-sixth year of an Army Battalion. Over the research period, the orchestra performed on average three times a fortnight , always with a specific theme. I had first met the orchestra and its leader Yanto the previous year, and had on occasion performed with them. Regarding the event under discussion, I ran into some of the musicians at the Sultan’s Palace for Yogya Heritage Week, when they invited me to perform with them the following evening. During the following afternoon the orchestra members gathered at their usual rehearsal space. After the Azan call to prayer, an army bus took us five kilometres north to the Army Battalion Base, although I did not know anything about our destination or the event theme until we reached the venue. The bus entered the army grounds from a side road, and the orchestra gathered in a spacious tent behind a large stage. A few of the eight young women singers were given final touches to their make-up and sat ready to perform. Tombo Sutris’ Imam and two army personnel hauled in bags containing full army fatigues for the musicians, and after trying out different sizes and combinations we were fully fitted. A quick sound-check fol- 7 Armed Forces...