TNI vows to stay neutral in general election

TNI vows to stay neutral in general election

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesia Military (TNI) pledged on Thursday to maintain its
neutrality in this year's elections in accordance with its
professed intention to get out of politics for good.

"The year 2004 will be very important for the TNI in showing
the nation that its decision to leave the political arena is not
merely rhetoric," TNI Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said.

Endriartono was speaking during a press conference after the
first day of a leadership meeting at the TNI headquarters in
Cilangkap, East Jakarta. During the plenary meeting, the TNI's
top brass sought a common vision in facing the elections.

Navy Chief of Staff Gen. Bernard Kent Sondakh, Air Force Chief
of Staff Marshall Chappy Hakim, TNI Deputy Chief of General
Affairs Gen. Djamari Chaniago, and Deputy Army Chief of Staff Lt.
Gen. Djoko Santoso were present at the meeting.

Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu skipped the leadership
meeting, but no explanation was given regarding his absence.

Early last year Ryamizard sparked controversy with a statement
indicating that the TNI wished to regain its power. Another
controversial statement came in October when he asked the
families of TNI members to vote for parties or politicians who
favored the interests of the TNI.

Endriartono asserted on Wednesday that TNI headquarters had
ordered all TNI personnel and their commanders to refrain
expressing support for any particular political party or
presidential hopeful.

"Those who defy the order will be punished severely," he said.

In the past, the TNI was the loyal supporter of former
president Soeharto and his party Golkar. Soeharto was an Army
general who adorned himself with five stars in 1997.

TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin called on the
public to report any soldier who violated the TNI chief's order
to their direct commanders.

Sjafrie said a violation of the order would carry a maximum
penalty of discharge from the armed forces.

"So as to demonstrate its neutrality, the TNI does not want to
see even a minor violation. Violations will cost the TNI the
people's trust, and we cannot not afford that," he told
reporters.

Endriartono said the TNI intended to remain neutral in the
elections, and not support any presidential candidate.

"This year, we have decided to waive our right to vote because
as we have done so for years and do not want to
break our promise of remaining neutral. Perhaps, we will exercise
this right in the next general election," he said.

In 2000, the People's Consultative Assembly scrapped the TNI's
role in politics with its decision to abolish the military's
seats in both the House of Representatives and the Assembly
starting in 2004. The military also had to return its security
role to the police and focus on defense affairs.

With its membership never in excess of 500,000, the TNI has
been allocated ample House seats without the need to contest
elections since 1971.

Endriartono hoped the public would encourage the TNI to focus
on defense and not to tempt the military to return to politics.

After the meeting, Endriartono said that the TNI top brass had
also talked about the military's responsibility to help the
police maintain order during the elections.

He said the military would focus on providing security in
conflict-prone areas like Aceh, Papua, Maluku, North Maluku and
Poso "to prevent possible acts of sabotage and terror that could
lead to the failure of elections".

The TNI leadership meeting will conclude on Friday.

Indonesia is expected to stage a legislative election in April
and its first direct presidential election in July.