Stay out of politics, Ryamizard repeats order

Stay out of politics, Ryamizard repeats order

The Jakarta Post, Magelang, Central Java

Members of the Army are being told to stay out of politics, make
sacrifices and improve their professionalism if they want to
succeed in performing their task, which is to maintain national
unity.

"Maintaining national unity is TNI (Indonesian Military)
ideology. How can we safeguard national unity if we are divided
into various political camps?" Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard
Ryacudu told a gathering of Central Java resort and district
military commanders at the Army Academy here Friday.

He said the Army did not want a repeat of events in the 1950s,
when the military was divided along different, at times opposing,
political and ideological lines -- hence the existence of such
groupings as the TNI PKI, members of the military affiliated to
the banned Indonesian Communist Party.

Ryamizard was responding to a question on the military's right
to vote.

He said while the Army was in full support of democracy and
the people's right to vote, he believed that when one joined the
military one abandoned one's individual rights, including the
right to vote.

"We lose our individual rights the moment we join the
military. We even pledge our lives to safeguard the people and
the nation," he said, suggesting that giving up the right to vote
was therefore no big deal.

Controversies over TNI's voting rights and the right to
contest elections began after the Ministry of Home Affairs
submitted a draft of the election bill to the House of
Representatives for deliberation earlier this month. The draft
contains a stipulation that members of both the TNI and the
police would have the right to vote and be elected. According to
the draft, members of the TNI and National Police can be elected
in the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), provided they have
obtained a permit from their superior.

TNI Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has, meanwhile, taken a
stand that is more of a compromise, saying the TNI and the police
will temporarily waive their voting rights and the right to
contest elections until such time as the nation is properly
prepared.

"It could be in 2004, 2009, or 3004," Endriartono said last
Wednesday when asked at what point the nation might reach
political maturity.

Ryamizard took the opportunity to remind troops of the Army's
reform pledge, which was to build a professional force.

"This we can only do through extra-hard work. Given the
country's difficulties, it is not enough just to work: We must
work extra hard. Unlike in developed countries such as the U.S.,
where everything is provided for, we lack most things and must be
resourceful to ensure the welfare of our troops," he said.

He ordered unit commanders to take good care of their troops
who stood guard across the archipelago.

"If you fail to take care of your men, they will fail in their
duty and when troops fail, who else can protect the people and
the nation?"

Ryamizard also ordered his troops to maintain unity with the
people and, if necessary, to make sacrifices for the people's
well-being.

"If need be, eat one meal a day and give your food to the
people. If you are afflicted with malaria and there are people
who suffer the same ailment, give your medicine to the people. We
must take care of the people first," he added.

He also promised to bring several key issues, raised during
Friday's gathering, to a hearing with House members on June 25.
Among the issues discussed were TNI's role in helping the
National Police maintain security and order.

Citing police handling of the rallies in Seattle two years
ago, he said when a situation had gone beyond police
capabilities, then the military had to step in.

"When the police failed, as in Seattle, to handle the crowd
using only shields and batons, then it would have been foolish of
the military to apply a similar approach."

However, the Army would not allow its troops to interfere or
help the police if such involvement would lead to prosecution.

"We need a clear legal framework and guarantee in such
situations. We don't want troops to be accused of and prosecuted
for human rights violations when all they have done is help the
police restore security and order," he said.

Also on Friday, Ryamizard briefed new graduate officers on the
Army's reform commitment and told them to uphold their honor,
keep abreast of outside developments and maintain their sense of
nationalism.

"Wherever you go, maintain your honor because honor is
everything. Keep up with outside progress, learn as much as you
can about everything, so you know how to conduct yourselves.
Maintain your sense of nationalism and encourage the people to
safeguard our country," he said.