Military vows to keep low-key role in elections

BANDUNG (JP): A senior military officer said here on Tuesday the Armed Forces (TNI) would not play a leading role in the next presidential election.

At a seminar on the relationship between civilians and military at the Army Staff and Command School in the West Java capital, TNI Territorial chief Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the military would accept a civilian leader.

Since former president Soeharto stepped down last May, the military has been the target of fierce criticism for its close involvement in social and political affairs, and for past atrocities in East Timor and Aceh.

Observers say Indonesia will never become a democratic country unless the military withdraws from the political arena altogether.

"TNI withdrawal from politics is an absolute requirement for democracy. Indonesia will become democratic only if the military pulls out of politics," Lt. Gen. Hasnan Habib (ret) said in February.

According to new political laws, the military will receive 38 seats in the House of Representatives and 10 percent of the seats in provincial and regency legislatures.

Observers, however, say TNI should no longer be represented in the House, with seats reserved for legislators elected through the general election as stipulated in the 1945 Constitution.

Some observers say the current House approval for 38 TNI seats should be terminated when the House ends its session in 2004.

Meanwhile, in Malang, East Java, the local chapter of the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) alleged on Monday the Golkar Party and the People's Sovereignty Party (PDR) were abusing social safety net funds in the area.

The June 7 elections will be contested by 48 parties.

Although electoral campaigning officially commences on May 19, many of the parties have been holding street convoys and rallies. (43/nur)