Hendropriyono won't campaign for PDI-P

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Hendropriyono stated clearly on Friday that he would not campaign for his party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), despite an instruction from party leader Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Hendropriyono, who is currently on an official visit to Pakistan, said that he would put the national interest over party interest to ensure fairness in the elections.

"My loyalty to the country overrides my loyalty to the party," the intelligence chief said in a statement provided to The Jakarta Post.

The statement was made via his assistants at the BIN office in Jakarta.

The country will hold the legislative election on April 5, followed by the presidential election on July 5, and a possible runoff on Sept. 20.

Despite Hendropriyono's statement, PDI-P chair Megawati refused to exempt him from the party's instruction for all party members in the Cabinet to campaign during the election season.

"It is up to Pak Hendropriyono whether he is willing to fulfill his party duties or not, but the chairperson has issued the instruction," PDI-P deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung told the Post.

He said Megawati, the incumbent President, would let Hendropriyono decide the matter on his own. "Should he decline (to campaign) then that's OK," Pramono said.

The controversy over Hendropriyono's campaign plan came out after PDI-P listed him as one of the party's national campaigners during the legislative election campaign period from March 11 to April 1.

The listing of Hendropriyono provoked anxiety over possible abuse of intelligence reports in the interests of PDI-P and Megawati, who is aiming to retain the presidency in the upcoming election.

No legislation bans government officials from campaigning. A newly issued government regulation stipulates that all government officials may campaign for their respective parties, but have to take leave from their state duties.

The Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) had earlier asked Megawati to ban the intelligence chief from campaigning for PDI-P.

Hendropriyono joined PDI-P in 2001 and currently sits as a member of the party's consultative board.

As stipulated by Presidential Instruction No.4/2001, the BIN chief has authority to coordinate all intelligence activities in the country.

Using such authority, BIN has the right to collect intelligence reports from the Indonesian Military (TNI), National Police and prosecutor's offices.

Separately, Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno welcomed Hendropriyono's decision not to campaign for his party.

"His response, to withdraw from the list of campaigners, was appropriate," Hari said, as quoted by Antara.

However, he underlined that like other government officials, Hendropriyono had the right to participate during the campaigning period.

"However, I believe he also has the right to reject such a party instruction," he said.