A hidden agenda?

A hidden agenda?

From the very beginning the whole thing smelled fishy.
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Decree No. VII/2000
stipulated that members of the military and police have no voting
rights and no right to contest in elections. It also decreed that
both forces would remain neutral and stay out of politics. The
MPR also agreed that the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National
Police would maintain their seats in the House of Representatives
(DPR) until 2004 and in the MPR until 2009.

But, suddenly, out of the blue, came the surprise. The draft
of the Election Bill submitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs to
the DPR for deliberation two weeks ago contains a stipulation
that members of both the TNI and the police would have the right
to vote and be elected. According to the draft, members of the
TNI and National Police could be elected in the Regional
Representative Council (DPD) provided they obtained a permit from
their superior.

The DPD is a new institution. Currently, MPR members consist
of House members, regional representatives and interest groups.
Under the amended Constitution, MPR members would consist of
House members plus the 120 elected DPD members representing 30
provinces. The new proposal, should it be accepted, would not
only negate MPR Decree No. VII/2000, but would virtually reopen
the door for the TNI to reenter politics after 2009.

No wonder the proposal has prompted a fierce public debate.
Many people have called the proposal a setback in the journey
toward democratization. Some have even alleged that the proposal
came from an anti-reform group within the TNI and National Police
who want to stay in politics.

Strangely, Prof. Ramlan Surbakti, who chaired the Election
Bill Drafting Team, denied his team had ever drafted the
provision allowing members of TNI and police the right to contest
in an election. "We agree to give members of the TNI and National
Police voting rights, as it is every citizen's right, but
certainly not the right to be elected", he said.

The home affairs minister, Hari Sabarno, quickly denied that
the controversial proposal came from his office. He claimed it
has been discussed in an inter-departmental forum, which includes
the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights and the TNI.

But, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra
promptly stated that his ministry was not involved in the
discussion. And to add more confusion to the already chaotic
situation, last week the TNI issued an official statement that
prior to the submitting of the draft they were never consulted in
the drafting stage. Former ABRI Chief Gen. Widodo went even
further by stating: "Who could have a hidden agenda?"

Controversy aside, the whole episode has thrown light on the
fact that there may indeed be diehards who want the TNI to stay
in politics, or at least maintain its influence in the country,
and who are willing to use every channel or vehicle to reach
their goal. In the MPR session in 2000, they succeeded in placing
pressure on political parties to reach a "consensus" that allowed
the TNI and National Police to maintain their seats in the MPR to
2009, instead of 2004 as agreed before.

One may understandably believe that after 30 years in power,
the TNI is not easily willing to relinquish its political clout
for certain reasons, whether it be down to its mentality or to
safeguard its business interests. But to be fair, one can also
reason that the motive behind the move is TNI's longtime distrust
of civilian rule, owing to the chaotic parliamentary democratic
rule in the 1950s and what has happened in the last four years
since Soeharto's downfall.

But -- vox populi vox dei. The people have decided that the
TNI and National Police will have to disengage themselves from
politics and start the re-civilization process. The TNI and
police will be, rightfully, professionals whose duty is to
maintain peace and order and to defend the country from external
threat.

It is interesting that there are indeed elements within the
Army, one can call them the reformists, who from the very
beginning resisted attempts to draw the military back into
politics. The firm statement issued last week by newly appointed
Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, Army Chief of Staff, that, "the Army will
refuse the right to vote and the right to be elected", citing it
would jeopardize efforts to improve soldiers' professionalism, is
a plain example.

From this perspective, one can also understand why newly
appointed TNI Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto's statement last
Wednesday sounded like a compromise. "The TNI and police will
temporarily waive their voting rights and right to contest in
elections until the nation is properly prepared."

So, when will that be? According to Sutarto, it depends on
when the nation can reach political maturity. "It could be in
2004, 2009, or 3004", he said.

The lesson from the whole episode is that the journey to
democracy and civilian rule is full of hurdles. Thus, one can
expect more skirmishes ahead.