Officers suspended, to run for govt posts
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has suspended six officers, four of them from the military intelligence unit, to enable them to contest the upcoming regional elections.
Spokesman for the TNI Col. Ahmad Yani Basuki said on Wednesday that the temporary suspensions, effective since May 3, was a consequence of the TNI chief's policy interpretation for serving military personnel who wished to nominate for regional government positions.
The officers suspended are Col. DJ Nachrowi of the TNI Information Center, Lt. Col. Didi Sunardi of the TNI Intelligence Body (Bais), Lt. Col. Naschfin FN of Bais, Maj. Bastiam of Bais, Maj. Abdul Rais Ashar Sadar of Bais and Capt. AM Bahtiar Syambawa of the presidential details unit.
Nachrowi said all the political parties that nominated the officers had officially informed the TNI of the servicemen's candidacy.
TNI headquarters is allowing active military officers to contest direct elections for regents, mayors and provincial governors, which will kick off on June 1. This was apparently due to loopholes in Law No. 32/2004 on regional government that does not specifically ban active military or police officers from nominating for regional government posts.
However, TNI Law No. 34/2004 explicitly bans active military personnel from engaging in politics.
The election law passed in 2003 also forbids military involvement in election campaigns or other activities related to a political party's efforts to win election, but allows them exercise their right to vote. But Endriartono unilaterally insisted last year that the military was "not ready" to vote, giving the reason that partiality might affect national unity.
Critics have urged military officers to resign, or for the TNI chief to dismiss them, if they wished to become candidates in regional elections, saying that suspension does not cut their ties with the institution.
Critics say that military officers joining the race under the banner of political parties is detrimental to the military's alleged commitment to maintain its neutrality, and in turn its professionalism.
During the New Order dictatorship, the military as an institution was inseparable from the ruling party Golkar.
In his letter of approval, Endriartono simply asked officers seeking local governmental posts to resign if they won the elections. The TNI will welcome them back if they fail to gain election, but says they might lose their current posts within the military.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is one of a few officers who sacrificed their military careers before taking up civilian posts. Then an Army lieutenant general, Susilo retired from the military after then president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid appointed him as mining and energy minister in 1999.
Gus Dur made Susilo an honorary four-star general after naming him coordinating minister for political and security affairs.
No. Name position being contested
1. Col. DJ Nachrowi Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra deputy regent
2. Lt. Col. Didi Sunardi Serang, Banten regent
3. Lt. Col. Naschfin FN Berau, East Kalimantan regent
4. Lt. Col. Bastiam Agam, West Sumatra regent
5. Maj. Abdul Rais Ashar Sadar Yapen Waropen, Papua regent
6. Capt. AM Bahtiar Syambawa Mamuju, West Sulawesi regent