Prominent retired officers formally join Megawati's PDI

JAKARTA (JP): Maj. Gen. (ret) Theo Syafei and Maj. Gen. (ret) Raja Kami Sembiring Meliala led an illustrious pack of former military officers, former Golkar leaders and businessmen who formally joined the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) under Megawati Soekarnoputri on Friday.

Theo was formerly chief of the Udayana Regional Military Chief and served a brief stint as legislator in the Armed Forces (ABRI) faction in the House of Representatives (DPR) before he was withdrawn last year for criticizing then president Soeharto.

Sembiring was also known as an outspoken and highly critical legislator when he represented ABRI in the House.

Two other former ABRI officers who joined the PDI's ranks were Maj. Gen. (ret) Sunarso Djajusman and Police Col. (ret) R.B. Hutagaol.

Former Golkar officials who defected were former deputy chairman Jacob Tobing, Rio Tambunan and Widjonarko, who was chairman of the Golkar-affiliated Indonesian Young Generation for Reform.

Making up the remaining names on the list were businessmen Julius Usman, Erwin Pardede and Suko Sudarko.

All registered as members of the PDI's South Jakarta branch.

The ceremony was held at the branch's office in Ciganjur subdistrict and was lead by branch chairman Audy F. Tambunan. The chairmen of the party's Jakarta chapter and East Jakarta branch, Roy B.B. Janis and Tarmidi, both attended.

Separately, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo said the military had no qualms about any of its former officers joining political parties.

"Basically, it's their right as retired officials to join political parties. The most important thing is that they remain committed to the country and the nation," Subagyo told reporters at the Army headquarters in Central Jakarta after the weekly Friday prayer.

"There is no law requiring them to join Golkar," he said.

However, he added that ideally, they should follow the stance of the Armed Forces Veterans Association (Pepabri), to which all former officers belong.

"But, again it's their right to join the PDI. We cannot force them not to," he said.

Many other former servicemen said they supported the retired generals' decision to join Megawati's camp.

Maj. Gen. (ret) Syamsir Siregar, a former chief of the Armed Forces Intelligence Agency (BIA), said that retired military officers were free to choose how to channel their political aspirations.

Former ABRI legislator Lt. Gen. (ret) Syaiful Sulun said the move was "natural".

Meanwhile, a former chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad), Lt. Gen. (ret) Achmad Kemal Idris, called on the Armed Forces Headquarters to maintain an equal distance from all political parties. (imn)