Ex-officers call on associates for polls
Ex-officers call on associates for polls
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
As the April 5 legislative election draws near, the association
of former military and police personnel, Pepabri, call on its
members to vote for retired officers representing parties
committed to maintaining the country's territorial integrity.
New Pepabri chairman Insp. Gen. (ret) I.G.M. Putera Astaman,
however, refused to name which parties the group supported, but
underlined that "such parties should uphold the integrity of the
Unitary Republic of Indonesia, as well as Pancasila and the
Constitution".
He further said the parties must be based on nationalism
rather than religion.
"We will consider the April election a success if we can get
through it peacefully and orderly, and if those parties with
similar visions and missions to ours emerge as the winners.
"We will also consider it a success if retired officers from
the military and National Police running for legislative seats
are elected at all levels," Astaman said during a press
conference at the end of Pepabri's working meeting here.
On April 5, the country will elect members of the House of
Representatives, provincial and regency legislatures, and the
Regional Representatives Council.
Parties or coalitions that win 3 percent seats in the House or
5 percent of the total vote are then eligible to nominate
candidates for the country's first direct presidential election
on July 5.
Many former military and police officers have joined the 24
political parties eligible to contest the legislative election.
Some are even eying the presidential post.
Former Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto and
the former commander of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command
(Kostrad), Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto, are both taking part
in the Golkar conventions to select a presidential candidate.
Gen. (ret) R. Hartono, a former Army chief of staff, has
established the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB)
and has already proposed Siti "Tutut" Hardijanti Rukmana, a
daughter of former president Soeharto, as its presidential
candidate.
The Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI) was established
by former Army chief of staff Gen. (ret) Edi Sudrajat.
Still several other military officers have joined religious-
based political parties, including Maj. Gen. (ret) Ferry
Tinggogoy of the National Awakening Party (PKB), and Lt. Gen.
(ret) Junus Josfiah and Lt. Gen. (ret) Andi M. Ghalib from the
United Development Party (PPP).
Astaman refused to disclose how many Pepabri members and their
family members were eligible to vote, but said "such a number is
enough, even at the mayoralty level, to determine victory for the
country's best sons."
For the military and police, the elections will mark their
withdrawal from the House of Representatives, as mandated by the
amended 1945 Constitution. They will end their presence in the
People's Consultative Assembly in 2009.