Officers suspended, to run for govt posts
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