PPP backs TNI 'boycott' of election

PPP backs TNI 'boycott' of election

JAKARTA: The National Development Party (PPP) has expressed support for the military's move to discourage its soldiers from using their voting rights in the 2004 general election as part of an attempt to maintain the armed forces' esprit de corps.

Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, head of the party's education and training department, said that two years were not sufficient for the military to prepare for participation in general elections.

"We all know that the military adheres to the chain of command as its primary doctrine. Should we force them to exercise their political rights in the next general election, it would certainly affect solidity in the ranks," Lukman said after attending a two- day meeting to discuss the proposed electoral bills currently being deliberated by the House of Representatives (DPR).

The meeting also concluded that an independent body should be set up to monitor the general election process, instead of leaving the responsibility entirely in the hands of the General Elections Commission (KPU).

Earlier, Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said that he would ask his soldiers not to use their political rights pending increased political maturity in the country.

Observers, nevertheless, have criticized the statement, saying that "even the TNI chief has no right to interfere with soldiers' political rights as these are basic rights of citizenship." --JP