Elegant message from TNI

Elegant message from TNI

The new composition of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) will consist only of members of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), who would be elected through a general election.

There will be no appointed member. There will be no interest group representative. And the military and the police will have no representatives in the Assembly. We do not have to wait until 2009, because 11 out of 12 MPR factions have agreed to implement the new composition in the 2004 General Election.

The faction representing the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Indonesian Police has demonstrated its political maturity.

"The TNI and the police realize that democracy, decentralization and demilitarization are the answer to put the people's sovereignty at the top. We will not ask compensation for seats in the Assembly.

We will uphold our commitment not to get involved in political practices," TNI/Police faction chairman, Slamet Supriyadi, said.

This makes us relieved because the TNI and the police have elegantly withdrawn themselves from the political arena.

This is a constitutional amendment which will end years of military involvement in the MPR. Another pride will wait -- the professional TNI and police.

--Antara, Jakarta