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.