Military to play role in election of the president

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security/Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto cited democratic rights on Monday in defending the military's entitlement to an equal say in the General Session of the highest state body, which will elect a new president.

In response to increasing calls from military observers for TNI to refrain from involvement in the next presidential election in November, Wiranto argued that the military held equal rights with other factions in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

The military has been allotted 38 unelected seats in the House of Representatives, and members also serve in the Assembly.

He said that TNI as an official institution could not be discriminated against in terms of its rights from other sociopolitical institutions.

"So, the calls for TNI's neutrality in the presidential election are against democracy, since the military as part of the nation is responsible for the country's future," he said.

"Discrimination in democracy, including that regarding the military's presence in the legislative bodies, would be illegal," Wiranto said, referring to the 1999 law on the composition and structure of the MPR, the House and provincial and regency legislatures.

"TNI, through its future 38 representatives in the legislative bodies, will participate actively in making consensus and policies to build the nation... It will use its voting rights in crucial matters."

Last week analysts predicted the military would be the kingmaker in determining the nation's next leader, particularly considering predictions that no party will win a majority of seats and thus be eligible to determine the presidency.

Asked if the military would support Megawati Soekarnoputri's nomination for the presidency, Wiranto said that the most important issue was that the elected president fit TNI's criteria as "the nation's best son".

"I mean the best of the nation's offspring," he quickly corrected himself, saying he did not want to be misinterpreted. The issue of the president's sex has been increasingly sensitive with the candidacy of Megawati, chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan). Some public figures have stated that a woman should not be permitted to lead the country.

TNI's criteria for the next president is the ability to cope with the economic and political crises, maintain national unity and that the candidate is acceptable to all parties.

Apart from 462 representatives of parties winning the elections, TNI along with 200 members of the Regional Representatives and Societal Group factions are expected to play an influential role in the presidential election.

Meanwhile, observers warned that if PDI Perjuangan wins the polls, it should not repeat mistakes of the New Order.

The warnings were raised separately by Satjipto Rahardjo, a noted professor of law, and Yogyakarta monarch and governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, also tipped by many as presidential material.

"PDI Perjuangan should not make empty promises like Golkar," Satjipto said in Semarang.

With the potential to become the next leader, Megawati should be more responsive to all people, the sultan said. The party has been criticized for having many non-Muslim legislative hopefuls in a predominantly Muslim country.

PDI Perjuangan is leading in provisional results, with the National Awakening Party and Golkar Party in respectively second and third place.

Votes still to come in from outside Java are estimated to increase Golkar's tallies.

"How would people in the village with limited information be expected to change how they vote?" said the sultan, a Golkar executive.

"Besides, maybe they do think that their welfare will increase by choosing Golkar."

Meanwhile, the deputy speaker of the House, Hari Sabarno, said when opening the new session on Monday that the new government was expected to draw up policies which could respond to the crisis.

"The people will judge whether the new government will be able to be sensitive and make the right policies," Hari from the Armed Forces faction said.

"The public has great expectations about the 1999 election, its outcome is expected to improve their well-being," he added. (rms/44/har)