Commanders told to remain neutral
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.