Military vows to keep low-key role in elections

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)