TNI candidates may tarnish democracy, warns Scholar<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba and Sjofiardi Bachyul, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura\/Padang<\/p>\n
A Papuan scholar criticized on Thursday the Indonesian military's
\n(TNI) decision to allow its personnel to become candidates for
\npolitical office in the upcoming regional elections, saying that
\nit could undermine democracy.<\/p>\n
\"Many people have expressed concern that, if the officers
\nbecome candidates in the election, then the TNI, as an
\ninstitution, might intervene to help him or her. There is fear
\nthat it can lead to possible abuses of power that can tarnish
\ndemocracy,\" said Bambang Sugianto, a lecturer at Cendrawasih
\nUniversity in Jayapura, Papua. Similar concerns were also
\nexpressed by the chief of the Agam regency Election Supervisory
\nCommittee (Panwaslu) in West Sumatra, Raymon.<\/p>\n
According to Raymon, their candidacies were legal, but they
\ncould spark fear that the TNI candidates could make use of TNI
\nfacilities, including the entire TNI network, to win the
\nelection.<\/p>\n
\"In order to prevent this, we have made an agreement with the
\nAgam military command, so they will stick to the regulations and
\nnot abuse their facilities to allow the TNI candidates to win the
\nelection,\" said Raymon.<\/p>\n
Bambang and Raymon were voicing their concerns after the TNI
\nallowed at least six of its officers to register and become
\ncandidates for regent and vice regent posts in the upcoming
\nregional elections this June. The six included Lt. Col. Bastiam
\nwho will run for the post of Agam Regent and Maj. Abdul Rais
\nAshar Sadar, who is vying for the job of regent in Yapen Waropen
\nregency, Papua.<\/p>\n
The TNI has suspended them from their current military posts
\npending the election outcome, however concerns remain that the
\ncould use TNI assets and networks to win the elections.<\/p>\n
Separately, Lt. Col. Bastiam sought to ease public concerns,
\nsaying that TNI personnel were allowed by the law, namely Law no.
\n32\/2004 on regional government, to participate in the elections.<\/p>\n
\"The TNI personnel have the right to be nominated for
\ngovernment posts. If there is a party that impedes the candidacy
\nof TNI personnel in the election, then it will be a violation of
\nour human rights,\" said Bastiam who is currently a senior officer
\nat the TNI headquarters in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Bastiam acknowledged the reality that the TNI had been
\nassociated with a repressive regime, but, he insisted, the
\nsituation had changed since the reform era began over seven years
\nago.<\/p>\n
\"These fears are not realistic or subjective. The TNI may have
\ncommitted mistakes, but they were past mistakes. The public
\nshould now be more objective,\" explained Bastiam.<\/p>\n
Bastiam added that he chose to run in the election after he
\nwas nominated by the United Development Party (PPP).<\/p>\n
Bastiam promised that he would not mobilize human resources
\nand TNI facilities to win the election and that he would only use
\nPPP and public facilities -- in line with the law.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, responding to the candidacy of a TNI Maj. Abdul in
\nPapua, another political observer from Cendrawasih University
\nBeatus Tambaib, said that psychologically it would be very hard
\nfor Papuans to accept the candidacy of a TNI officer.<\/p>\n
But, it was also hard to predict whether the TNI officer will
\nlose or win the upcoming election in June, he said without
\nelaborating.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tni-candidates-may-tarnish-democracy-warns-scholar-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}