'TNI should stay neutral in elections'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: The Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono
\nSutarto urged politicians on Friday not to invite the military
\nback into politics and suggested that the institution stay
\nneutral in the 2004 general elections.<\/p>\n
\"I ask the people to allow us (TNI) not to exercise our
\npolitical rights,\" Endriartono told reporters.<\/p>\n
\"If in the past we supported certain political parties in this
\ncountry, now I ask politicians not to encourage us to get
\ninvolved in this party or that party,\" said Endriartono,
\nreferring to the close-relationship between TNI and the New Order
\nruling party Golkar during Soeharto's 32 years of leadership.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais said
\nearlier that he would enlist a military officer as his running
\nmate in 2004, when the country is expected to hold its first ever
\ndirect presidential election.<\/p>\n
Under the amended 1945 Constitution, the presence of TNI in
\nthe House of Representatives will be scrapped in 2004, while the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly in 2009. --JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tni-should-stay-neutral-in-elections-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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