Don't mess with elections, General Wiranto insists

Don't mess with elections, General Wiranto insists

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense/Armed Forces Commander Gen.
Wiranto said on Friday he would not tolerate any attempt to foil
or disturb the June general election and presidential election
later this year.

The general said the Armed Forces would take all necessary
measures to ensure free, just and fair elections, because the
success of the two events together was key to the nation's
recovery.

"The success of the two national agendas is the only gateway
for the nation to leave the current crisis and enter the 21st
century," Wiranto said during his address at the opening of the
21st regular course of the Armed Forces (ABRI) School of Command
in Bandung, West Java.

He also reiterated his previous statement that ABRI would
remain neutral during the election process and accept the result
of the elections whatever it was.

He added that ABRI would also remain neutral during the
General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to
elect a new president at the year's end.

Many of the new political parties have expressed fears that
ABRI may use its clout to influence the elections to ensure the
continuation of its dual function in politics and security and
defense.

Students and antigovernment critics have repeatedly called on
the Armed Forces to relinquish its political role and focus on
security and defense tasks.

Active Armed Forces members do not vote. But ABRI is allotted
a certain number of seats in the legislature.

The newly adopted political law stipulates that ABRI will get
38 seats in the House of Representatives, a reduction from the
current 75 seats.

"ABRI will be neutral and keep the same distance with all
election participants," Wiranto pledged as quoted by Antara.
(prb)