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.