Military kin told to vote for pro-TNI candidates

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.