Military's election promise applauded<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): A politician and an intellectual yesterday
\nwelcomed the military's promise to look into allegations of
\nriggings at the next general election and to rectify them.<\/p>\n
The promise, made by Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief of
\nSociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid in Jakarta on
\nThursday, shows the military's intention to strengthen democracy
\nin Indonesia, they said.<\/p>\n
Susilo Utomo, a political lecturer at the Diponegoro
\nUniversity, praised Syarwan as a \"true statesman\" for coming out
\nwith such a bold promise.<\/p>\n
\"Obviously, we hope his statement will become reality. Let's
\nhope the military will match words with deeds,\" Susilo told The
\nJakarta Post. \"We hope that everyone, from party leaders to
\nministers and government officials, could be like him,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Muchsin Bafadal, deputy secretary general of the minority
\nUnited Development Party (PPP), said Syarwan's promise is a
\n\"fresh breeze for Indonesia's political climate.\"<\/p>\n
\"What we have been fighting for all this time has not been
\nentirely wasted,\" Muchsin said.<\/p>\n
Muchsin said ABRI must stand above party politics in the
\nelection and must also help to strengthen democracy in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Syarwan's statement shows the military's \"honest intention\" to
\nbe a good and firm referee, he said.<\/p>\n
The PPP, and the other minority party, the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI), have been fighting to change the election
\nsystem or at least seek greater assurances that election
\ncheatings do not go unpunished.<\/p>\n
The two parties, which are fighting the mighty Golkar in next
\nyear's election, have repeatedly said that their complaints of
\nelection riggings went unheeded. In 1992, Golkar came away with
\n68 percent of the total votes, PPP with 17 percent and PDI 15
\npercent.<\/p>\n
Syarwan was promoted last month to the current post, a
\nposition that will determine how the military will dispose its
\ntask as a political force during the upcoming election.<\/p>\n
ABRI members do not vote in general elections but the military
\nwill be given 75 of the 500 seats in the House of
\nRepresentatives. (har)<\/p>",
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