Military kin told to vote for pro-TNI candidates
Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh/Jakarta
Family members of Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel have been told to back presidential candidates who accommodate the institution's interests and are committed to maintaining the country's territorial integrity in the 2004 general elections.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu also called on family members of TNI personnel to exercise their political rights in 2004 and vote for contestants whose views were in line with TNI's aspirations.
"Active TNI (personnel) must be neutral. (But) family members of the TNI are free to vote for contestants in line with TNI's aspirations or Pancasila, the Constitution and the Unitary Republic of Indonesia," Ryamizard said.
The Army chief was briefing the media after holding a meeting with a number of retired Army generals, including Wiranto, Try Sutrisno, Edi Sudrajat, Rudini, Wismoyo Arismunandar and Raden Hartono at the Balai Kartini function hall in South Jakarta.
Ryamizard did not divulge any names but Wiranto and former commander of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto are strong candidates in the Golkar convention to elect presidential candidates for the 2004 general elections
Prabowo was absent from the meeting.
Indonesia will hold a legislative election in April 2004 and presidential elections in two stages in July and September respectively.
Ryamizard's statement came barely two weeks after TNI Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto told soldiers across the country not to exercise their right to vote in 2004 to avoid conflict within the institution. Endriartono was in Aceh on Thursday to assess the latest situation in the troubled province.
The statement also came on the last day of Golkar's convention. Wiranto and Prabowo are among the seven presidential hopefuls who garnered the support of at least five provinces to contest in the next selection round for presidential candidates.
Golkar's central board members, provincial chairmen and regental heads will gather in Jakarta on Oct. 20 and Oct. 21 to select five of the seven aspirants as the party's presidential candidates. One of the five will be elected as Golkar's sole candidate either in February or May.
During the meeting at the Balai Kartini on Thursday, Wiranto briefed active and retired Army generals on the importance of retired military officers involvement in the upcoming elections, saying the nations cohesiveness had continued to deteriorate and that TNI must be able to perform their task of protecting the country seriously.
Ryamizard, however, strongly rejected suggestions that the meeting had any political underpinnings.
"Should I reject the visit of retired Army officers? I can't ask them not to be involved in politics. If I do so, I am violating their rights as citizens. Military (personnel) are not allowed to support them, but I think it's OK if we pray for each other," he said.
"I've told you there was no politics. If this (meeting was aimed at discussing political agenda), why didn't I stage it secretly at a hotel?" Ryamizard said.
Separately in Banda Aceh, Endriartono reiterated that the TNI would not support any presidential candidates in 2004, including retired military officers aspiring for the post.
"We do not extend our support to any contestant as we have decided to be neutral," Endriartono told reporters during his visit to evaluate the military operation in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam on Thursday.
Endriartono was scheduled to attend the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Malaysia on Friday.
He expressed optimism that whoever was elected president next year would support the TNI, which is currently facing various problems.
"We don't support any contestants but we welcome any contestant who support the TNI," Endriartono said.
The TNI has agreed to end its presence in the House of Representatives in 2004 and the People's Consultative Assembly in 2009.