Army won't support any party: Chief

JAKARTA: The Army's Special Forces, or Kopassus, celebrated its 52nd anniversary on Friday in a simple ceremony at headquarters in Cijantung, East Jakarta.

Indonesian Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, who led the function, said the Army would not side with any political party and would back whoever was elected in the upcoming presidential election.

The country will hold its presidential election on July 5 and a possible run-off on Sept. 20.

Some former military officers have made known their plans to run in the country's first ever direct presidential election.

Also attending the ceremony were senior Kopassus members Gen. (ret) Agum Gumelar, Gen. (ret) Luhut B. Panjaitan; Gen. (ret) Wismoyo Arismunandar; Gen. (ret) Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, Lt. Gen. (ret) Sutiyoso and Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto.

Agum is the incumbent Minister of Transportation in President Megawati Soekarnoputri's rainbow coalition, Sutiyoso is Jakarta Governor, and Prabowo is a Golkar presidential aspirant.

Businessman Aburizal Bakri, another Golkar presidential hopeful, also attended the ceremony. -- JP