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.