Commanders told to remain neutral

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta

As the unprecedented direct presidential election draws near, Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto told commanders in the field to prevent soldiers from getting involved in politics before, during, and after the event or be ready to face stern sanctions.

Speaking in a commanders' call held on Monday night -- one day before the month-long campaign period, he also urged retired military officers contesting the election not to mobilize active military members.

"I was serious about keeping TNI neutral during the general elections. And as the direct presidential election approaches, I reiterate the call, urging soldiers to remain neutral," the four- star general told military top brass at the Navy's Dental Laboratory in Central Jakarta.

Two of five presidential candidates in the July 5 election are retired Army generals -- Wiranto and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Another Army general -- Agum Gumelar -- is running for vice president.

Endriartono warned senior military officers intent on joining campaign teams not to undermine TNI's structure.

Some active military officers have allegedly joined campaign teams of certain candidates, prompting the TNI leadership to withdraw all active military personnel from civil service.

Present during the commander's call were, among others, Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, Navy chief Adm. Bernard Kent Sondakh, Air Force chief Marshall Chappy Hakim, Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) commander Lt. Gen. Bibit Waluyo, and Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) commander Maj. Gen. Sriyanto.

"I hope candidates with a military background will refrain from interfering in the institution (TNI) -- and I believe they can because they are also pioneers of TNI's internal reform ... they are supposed to understand what keeping TNI out of politics means," he said.

As early as last year, Endriartono had already urged troops across the country to remain neutral before, during, and after the elections.

Endriartono even called on soldiers not to vote, arguing that soldiers lacked the experience to exercise their political rights.

TNI personnel were formerly not allowed to vote, but were given seats in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the House of Representatives (DPR).

However, MPR, the country's highest legislative body, had agreed to scrap the TNI/police' seats by 2004 in the House and by 2009 in the MPR. In return, they were allowed to vote in the elections.

The candidacies of Wiranto, Susilo, and Agum in the July 5 election, however, raised fears that the military are making a political comeback.

Students and pro-democracy activists have held protests across the country to vent their opposition for candidates with a military background.

During former president Soeharto's 32 years of iron-fisted leadership, TNI played an influential role in his political machine Golkar, the winner of the April 5 legislative election.

"I received reports that in the recent legislative election one or two active military officers failed to stay neutral, so if the public have such information, please inform me so I can impose stern sanctions against them," Endriartono said.