Officers told not to attend political meetings

Officers told not to attend political meetings

CIPATAT, Bandung, West Java (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen.
Endriartono Sutarto warned on Tuesday that no active Army
officers are allowed to attend meetings aimed at discussing any
specific political agenda.

"If Army officers are invited to join meetings discussing
political issues, there's a strong possibility that we would not
attend such events as they are already beyond our duties as
professional soldiers," Endriartono said here as quoted by
Antara.

He was responding to questions about whether the TNI would
attend if its officers were invited to the next meeting,
following the meeting of leaders of six political parties at the
Al Azhar Mosque last Friday. That meeting concluded by expressing
support for Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

He said, however, that the Army might consider responding to
an invitation if the meeting were just "a consultative one".

"But, if the meeting is about to set a certain political
agenda, it's forbidden for Indonesian Military (TNI) members to
join it," Endriartono said after opening the training program for
the Army's artillery, cavalry and infantry officers, and military
engineers.

Commenting on the editorial of The Washington Post, published
on March 2, 2001, which hinted that the United States government
might ask the Indonesian army to maintain "the nation's
stability" if the battle over President Abdurrahman Wahid's
impeachment turns violent, Endriartono said the Indonesian army
would only be involved in efforts to help the nation settle
security matters.

"The Indonesian army's involvement is not aimed at bringing
the TNI back into the political arena.

"Therefore, during this transitional period, the TNI expects
clear regulations to back us in handling security matters at
home," he said.

He denied having had a meeting, along with Chief of the Army
Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu,
and Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly Amien Rais in
Cilodong, a suburb south of Jakarta, last Friday night.

"The meeting never took place," Endriartono said.

Rumors were rife that Endriartono and Ryamizard met Amien on
March 2, telling the Assembly Speaker that the Army could no
longer support President Abdurrahman's administration.

Separately in Jakarta, Ryamizard said the Indonesian people
should settle their internal problems by themselves without
allowing in any foreign intervention.

"As a sovereign country, we must solve our own problems and
not let others interfere," Ryamizard told reporters while
observing the final rehearsal of Kostrad's 40th anniversary
celebration at the command's Airborne brigade headquarters in
Cijantung, East Jakarta.

"All elements of the nation, both military and civilian,
should join hands in maintaining security. The TNI alone cannot
perform this duty," he said.

Ryamizard declined to comment when asked about the possibility
of military's involvement in maintaining the 'nation's stability'
due to the weakness of civilian politicians in ruling the
country.

"We (TNI members) do not have political interests, and this
includes the top political posts," he said.

He also denied meeting with Amien Rais on March 2. (02)