Poll body objects to BIN chief campaigning
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Hendropriyono has sparked controversy for listing himself as a national campaigner for the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in the upcoming election campaign.
Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) member Didik Supriyanto urged Hendropriyono on Thursday to forego his plan to campaign for PDI-P for fear that he might misuse intelligence reports for the benefit of PDI-P and its leader Megawati Soekarnoputri.
"If Megawati is a true state leader, she must not allow Hendropriyono to campaign for any political party," Didik said.
Hendropriyono officially joined the country's largest party in 2001 and is currently a member of the party's consultative board.
A total of 24 political parties are contesting in the legislative election on April 5. Parties or coalitions that have at least 3 percent seats in the House or 5 percent of total votes up for grabs may contest in the country's first ever direct presidential election on July 5.
"BIN must remain neutral and its chief should be banned from campaigning," said Didik.
As stipulated in Presidential Decree No. 4/2001, BIN is the coordinator of all intelligence activities in the country.
Another voice of dissent from within the party came from senior PDI-P member Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, who is also a House deputy speaker.
Soetardjo said BIN, like the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police, should not side with any party.
"I think it is better for him (BIN chief) to stay neutral in the elections," Soetardjo said.
In the absence of a regulation on the intelligence chief's political rights, PDI-P listed Hendropriyono as one of its national campaigners with the General Elections Commission (KPU) on Wednesday.
PDI-P deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung said there was an instruction from party chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri for all party's members in the Cabinet to campaign, but "Hendropriyono may be exempted from the instruction".
The government is currently drafting a government regulation on campaign guidelines for state officials under the President, including the BIN chief.
According to the draft, state officials are allowed to campaign provided they take a leave of absence.
Didik said even in the absence of a regulation banning the BIN chief from joining the election campaign, Megawati should realize that the intelligence body could give her the power to become a dictator.
Intelligence information could be used by Megawati, who is seeking to keep her seat as president in the coming election, to crush her political opponents.
"BIN must stay independent, the involvement of Hendropriyono as a campaigner of one political party will affect the agency's neutrality," he said.
Separately, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono underlined that BIN reports belonged to the state and should only be given to the president, ministers, TNI chief, national police chief, and speakers of the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly.
"BIN intelligence information must not be used for personal interests, let alone a political party," Susilo remarked.
Voicing a similar concern, Vice President Hamzah Haz said that it would be difficult for Hendropriyono to maintain his credibility as intelligence chief, if he served one political party.
"Although other state officials may serve as campaigners, the BIN chief has to show his neutrality," Hamzah said on Thursday.
Hamzah, the United Development Party (PPP) leader, said that Hendropriyono should not mar his track record by participating in the campaign.