Military to play role in election of the president

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)