TNI to quit House, but not Assembly<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Military (TNI) is prepared to
\nleave the House of Representatives (DPR) after the next elections
\nin 2004, but insists on maintaining a presence in the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
TNI Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. told Assembly Ad Hoc Committee
\nI for constitutional amendments on Friday TNI's stance was a
\nsignal of its wish to withdraw from politics and remain neutral
\nin general elections.<\/p>\n
But he stressed that the military, as part of the nation, also
\nwished to participate in the Assembly, the country's highest law-
\nmaking body, in deciding the nation's political development.<\/p>\n
\"My proposal is based on objective conditions. I trust the ad
\nhoc committee will decide on the necessity or otherwise of the
\nTNI faction's presence in the MPR,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Widodo said TNI members had the same political rights as
\ncivilians, namely the right to vote and be elected to office, but
\nwere determined not to exercise these rights.<\/p>\n
\"If TNI members vote, they will vote for various parties, thus
\ngiving an impression of groupings within the institution. But if
\nthey set up their (own) political party, they will certainly vote
\nfor it, thus making them no longer neutral.\"<\/p>\n
The 1999 Law on Elections stipulates that TNI and the National
\nPolice, which have 400,000 members between them, are granted 38
\nseats in the House\/Assembly under the TNI\/National Police
\nfaction. But the Assembly decided in its general session last
\nOctober to bar the military from the House beginning in 2004.<\/p>\n
Under its dual function, TNI, whose members do not vote in
\nelections, has participated directly in the government while
\nmaintaining its responsibility for national security. But the
\nfall of former president Soeharto, a retired Army general, in May
\n1998 sparked demands for the military to leave politics entirely.<\/p>\n
The number of seats reserved for TNI in the legislature has
\nbeen reduced gradually over recent years from 100 to the present
\n38.<\/p>\n
In line with his proposal, Widodo suggested the MPR review
\nArticle 2 of the Constitution, which was amended last October, in
\norder to pave TNI's way into the Assembly. The amended article
\nstipulates that the Assembly comprises House legislators and
\nregional and interest group representatives, who are all elected.<\/p>\n
\"We think this article needs reviewing or additional
\nexplanation to make sure all elements of the nation are
\naccommodated in the MPR,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Assembly has 700 members, 500 of whom are House
\nlegislators.<\/p>\n
Widodo also asked the ad hoc committee to consider reviewing
\nArticle 10 of the Constitution on the president's status as the
\nsupreme commander of the military, in order to avoid repeating
\npast mistakes.<\/p>\n
He said as the head of state, the president had the power to
\ndeploy or use the military to safeguard his or her political
\ndecisions, but could not use the military for other political
\npurposes.<\/p>\n
Comments<\/p>\n
Some ad hoc committee members said Widodo's remarks reflected
\nTNI's continued refusal to leave the political arena.<\/p>\n
\"Their rejection is natural because they have enjoyed
\npolitical benefits for the past 32 years. They are trying to
\nmaintain their privileges,\" Asnawi Latief of the Muslim Community
\nAwakening Party (PKU) said.<\/p>\n
He suggested the Assembly treat TNI the same as it did civil
\nservants, who cannot pursue politics unless they first resign.<\/p>\n
\"It's better if military members are allowed to vote, but they
\nmust resign if they want to be elected as legislators,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Julius Usman from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan) labeled Widodo's statements \"an old trick\" to
\nmaintain the pivotal political role the military has played for
\nthree decades.<\/p>\n
Ali Maskur Musa from the National Awakening Party (PKB) was
\nmore cautious, saying the military's departure from the House
\nshould take place democratically. However, he did not elaborate
\non how this would be achieved.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, political observer Samsu Rizal Panggabean from
\nGadjah Mada University said Widodo's statements reflected TNI's
\nhalfhearted commitment to democratization.<\/p>\n
\"In line with the reform agenda, all members of the next
\nAssembly should be those elected in the general election. So
\nthere should be no appointees in the Assembly,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rizal suggested the next Assembly consist only of House
\nlegislators and regional representatives elected by provincial
\nlegislators.<\/p>\n
\"The key is that anyone, civilians and military personnel, who
\nintends to run for either the MPR or DPR must compete in the
\ngeneral election. That's how a democratic system must work.<\/p>\n
\"We no longer want to hear TNI's reason that their presence in
\nthe MPR is needed for the sake of national unity.\" (44\/jun\/emf)<\/p>",
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