Why TNI reluctant to vote

Why TNI reluctant to vote

Imanuddin, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A statement by then Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm.
Widodo A.S. on June 17, or one day before he handed over his
command baton to Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, that the TNI wanted to
remain in the legislature and have its voting rights delayed
until 2009 shocked the country, especially the politicians in the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

The statement was indeed controversial, particularly as it was
made by an officer about to vacate his post. Common practice here
does not allow an officer to make statements or issue policies
while he or she is about to retire or leave their post, as it
could be considered fait accompli by his or her successor.

It was also controversial as the statement was made as
deliberations of the bill on general elections -- submitted by
the government in May to the House of Representatives (DPR),
which proposes restoring the right of members of the TNI, along
with the National Police, to vote in the 2004 elections -- were
ongoing.

Widodo argued that the proposed bill would force the
TNI/Police to leave the legislature in 2004, contradicting an MPR
decree allowing it to stay in the country's highest legislative
body until 2009.

He was referring to Assembly Decree No. VII/2000 that grants
seats to TNI/National Police in the Assembly until 2009, while
also stipulating that members of the military and police have no
voting rights and no right to contest elections. The decree also
regulates that both forces should remain neutral and stay out of
politics.

Indeed, the bill on general elections itself is controversial.

The bill stipulates that members of the TNI and the National
Police can be elected to a Regional Representative Council (DPD),
provided they obtain permission from their superiors.

The DPD is a new institution proposed by the bill. Currently,
the Assembly consists of House members, regional representatives
and interest groups. Under the amended Constitution, the Assembly
would consist of House members plus 120 elected DPD members
representing 30 provinces.

These proposed changes, should they be accepted, would not
only negate MPR Decree No. VII/2000, but would virtually reopen
the door for the TNI to reenter politics after 2009.

Many have criticized Widodo's statement as harming the ongoing
process of democratization in the country, especially in the
military, and going against the TNI's commitment to internal
reform.

Others have accused TNI of being unwilling to quit the
political arena before 2009.

Some of these arguments might be correct. Because, whether
Indonesians like it or not, TNI (formerly ABRI) has been involved
in the country's political affairs since founding president
Sukarno was still in office.

TNI's involvement in politics continued and grew stronger
along with the promotion of then Army Maj. Gen. Soeharto to the
presidency, replacing Sukarno who was accused of complicity with
the now banned Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

Many observers have blamed the TNI's involvement in politics
for the limitations on the people's political rights and the New
Order regime's repressive approach toward its people.

But a senior military officer once said that it was for the
sake of national integrity and to prevent the reemergence of the
communists that TNI insisted on being involved in the country's
political affairs.

But what was the likely reason for Widodo, and the TNI, to ask
for a delay in its voting rights?

It does not appear to be that difficult to answer this
question, as Widodo himself hinted at the answer in a statement
to journalists at the TNI Headquarters in Cilangkap, East
Jakarta, on June 17.

The former TNI chief said he wanted the TNI and the Police to
remain in the legislature until 2009, to give the two
institutions time to "consolidate".

As simple as that? The answer is both yes and no.

Yes, because the TNI and the Police need time to calculate how
many votes they will and should get when their members are
granted the right to vote.

No, because logically it will be impossible for the TNI and
the Police to secure the 38 seats in the House they now get for
"free" if their members vote in the 2004 elections.

In the current electoral system, a seat in the House is worth
400,000 votes. So the TNI and the Police, whose combined forces
amount to about 420,000, would likely only get one seat in the
House.

The TNI/Police performance in the general elections would be
different if the two institutions included their retired officers
and their families, besides those still active.

There is no official statistical data on the actual number of
people in the TNI and Police families, including those still
active, retired and their family members.

Simple mathematical calculations show that if there are a
total of 20 million eligible voters from the entire TNI and
Police families, the two institutions would secure 50 seats in
the 500-strong House of Representatives, which is more than
enough to play a significant role in the country's law-making
body.

So, this is what Widodo likely meant by consolidation, as it
would be nearly impossible for the TNI and the Police to
consolidate their active and retired members in the two years
before the 2004 elections.