Ex-officers call on associates for polls<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
As the April 5 legislative election draws near, the association
\nof former military and police personnel, Pepabri, call on its
\nmembers to vote for retired officers representing parties
\ncommitted to maintaining the country's territorial integrity.<\/p>\n
New Pepabri chairman Insp. Gen. (ret) I.G.M. Putera Astaman,
\nhowever, refused to name which parties the group supported, but
\nunderlined that \"such parties should uphold the integrity of the
\nUnitary Republic of Indonesia, as well as Pancasila and the
\nConstitution\".<\/p>\n
He further said the parties must be based on nationalism
\nrather than religion.<\/p>\n
\"We will consider the April election a success if we can get
\nthrough it peacefully and orderly, and if those parties with
\nsimilar visions and missions to ours emerge as the winners.<\/p>\n
\"We will also consider it a success if retired officers from
\nthe military and National Police running for legislative seats
\nare elected at all levels,\" Astaman said during a press
\nconference at the end of Pepabri's working meeting here.<\/p>\n
On April 5, the country will elect members of the House of
\nRepresentatives, provincial and regency legislatures, and the
\nRegional Representatives Council.<\/p>\n
Parties or coalitions that win 3 percent seats in the House or
\n5 percent of the total vote are then eligible to nominate
\ncandidates for the country's first direct presidential election
\non July 5.<\/p>\n
Many former military and police officers have joined the 24
\npolitical parties eligible to contest the legislative election.
\nSome are even eying the presidential post.<\/p>\n
Former Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto and
\nthe former commander of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command
\n(Kostrad), Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto, are both taking part
\nin the Golkar conventions to select a presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
Gen. (ret) R. Hartono, a former Army chief of staff, has
\nestablished the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB)
\nand has already proposed Siti \"Tutut\" Hardijanti Rukmana, a
\ndaughter of former president Soeharto, as its presidential
\ncandidate.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI) was established
\nby former Army chief of staff Gen. (ret) Edi Sudrajat.<\/p>\n
Still several other military officers have joined religious-
\nbased political parties, including Maj. Gen. (ret) Ferry
\nTinggogoy of the National Awakening Party (PKB), and Lt. Gen.
\n(ret) Junus Josfiah and Lt. Gen. (ret) Andi M. Ghalib from the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP).<\/p>\n
Astaman refused to disclose how many Pepabri members and their
\nfamily members were eligible to vote, but said \"such a number is
\nenough, even at the mayoralty level, to determine victory for the
\ncountry's best sons.\"<\/p>\n
For the military and police, the elections will mark their
\nwithdrawal from the House of Representatives, as mandated by the
\namended 1945 Constitution. They will end their presence in the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly in 2009.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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