ABRI reiterates its political neutrality

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) maintained yesterday that it would remain neutral in the campaign for the May 29 general election.

"We're very firm on this," Armed Forces Chief Spokesman Brig. Gen. Slamet Supriadi told reporters at his office.

"ABRI takes no sides... We do not want to give the impression that we defend one group over the others," he said.

The Armed Forces leadership would take stern action against any of its members caught participating in the campaign, he said.

One soldier, he said, was being investigated after he had campaigned for one of the parties in Jakarta. "He will be disciplined," he said without giving further details.

He said the military was conducting Operasi Justisi (Justice Operation) to discipline Armed Forces personnel who violated rules, including those joining election campaigns. "If you see any violations by our members, let us know," he added.

The Armed Forces, whose more than 400,000 members do not vote, has been guaranteed 75 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives after the election.

The other 425 seats will be contested by the dominant Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

Slamet said the Armed Forces' chief concern during the campaign was to enforce the law, campaign rules and the various consensus that the three contestants have made.

Many laws and rules had been broken since campaigning officially began on April 27, he said.

One contestant -- an apparent reference to PPP -- had even broken the tripartite consensus on campaign methods, he said.

Under the consensus, the parties must submit their campaign schedules, including venues and speakers, to the police. Notification of any changes to the schedules must be given well in advance.

The PPP has refused to campaign in some areas to protest the police's handling of its campaign permits.

Slamet defended the police's stance, stressing that "coordination is very important to prevent clashes".

He said that campaign gatherings were drawing fewer people in recent days, with most people preferring to stay outside venues and take to the streets in convoys, which could be disruptive.

Slamet urged the three parties to abide by their consensus.

Under the consensus, the last two rounds of the campaign, the eighth and ninth, would be district-based discussions. These are small local meetings, he said. "They (the parties) have no reason to mobilize their supporters on the streets." (emb)