Military expected to vote uniformly<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Military representatives in the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) are expected to vote for the same
\ncandidate in the upcoming presidential election, a spokesman said
\non Saturday.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif
\nsaid voting uniformly was the military's policy.<\/p>\n
Syamsul's statement differed from that of another military
\nofficer, who said it would be better if military representatives
\nin the MPR abstained from the presidential election.<\/p>\n
"The 38 representatives in the next Assembly will use their
\nvoting rights to channel the military's aspirations for the
\npresidency. It would be discriminatory if they had to abstain,"
\nSyamsul said.<\/p>\n
In a personal capacity, Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah, an
\nassistant to the TNI chief of general planning affairs, said last
\nweek the military should not vote in the presidential election to
\nensure its neutrality in politics.<\/p>\n
"The election of the president ... will be a test for the TNI,
\nas to what extent the TNI can establish its neutrality," Agus
\ntold Kontan weekly. "My personal opinion is that we should remain
\nconsistent" to the military's commitment to democratization.<\/p>\n
TNI Commander Gen. Wiranto announced last year the military's
\n"new paradigm", saying the military would only seek to
\n"influence" public life instead of dominating it as some critics
\nhad charged.<\/p>\n
The 38 military representatives in the Assembly should abstain
\n"to show that political democratization can work" because the
\nmilitary did not earn its seats in the elections, Agus said,
\nadding that TNI's only commitment is to uphold the unitary state
\nand Pancasila ideology.<\/p>\n
Gen. Wiranto earlier said the military representatives would
\nbe "active" in the General Session of the MPR, including the
\npresidential election, because they had the same political rights
\nas other legislators.<\/p>\n
While some observers have said the military should remain
\nneutral, they have said TNI representatives would likely wield
\ngreat influence in determining the next president because of a
\npredicted deadlock in the election.<\/p>\n
According to provisional results from the general election, no
\npolitical party will receive the majority needed to pick the next
\npresident.<\/p>\n
Syamsul said the military would give the five political
\nparties with the largest number of votes the opportunity to name
\ntheir presidential candidates before making its stance know in
\nthe General Session.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\nhas named chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri its presidential
\ncandidate, while Golkar has named incumbent Presidents B.J.
\nHabibie. Other leading parties, including the United Development
\nParty (PPP), have not yet named a candidate.<\/p>\n
"TNI will reveal its stance during the presidential election,"
\nhe said, adding that the public should not speculate on whether
\nthe military will support Megawati.<\/p>\n
Political analysts have said the military may throw its weight
\nbehind Megawati because her party had come out in support of the
\nunitary state and the state ideology of Pancasila, while saying
\nit was against amending the 1945 Constitution. Others have said
\nthe military would support whichever part won the elections.<\/p>\n
Separately, constitutional law expert Ismail Sunny opposed an
\nidea proposed by Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid on separation of
\npower between the head of state and the head of government held
\nby the country's president.<\/p>\n
Speaking in a discussion held by Golkar Party, Ismail said
\nAbdurrahman's proposal was incompatible to the 1945 Constitution,
\nwhich confers a sweeping range of protocol and administrative
\nprerogatives to a president.<\/p>\n
"The separation can apply only after the Constitution is
\namended," Ismail said.<\/p>\n
He also said popular support for Megawati's presidential bid
\nwould only discourage political education for citizens. "It's an
\nemotion-filled and irrational support. An ordinary citizen,
\ninstead of a president's offspring, should assume the top post,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Megawati is a daughter of first president Sukarno, who was
\nreplaced by Soeharto following an abortive coup attempt blamed on
\nthe Indonesian Communist Party in 1965.(rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/military-expected-to-vote-uniformly-1447893297",
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