TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned all active officers from the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) to stay neutral during the upcoming presidential election on July 9. He admitted he was infuriated by people who tried to involve the officers in politics.
According to SBY, some even called him a "sinking ship" that must be abandoned by his subordinates. "I know this information. It is a form of subordination, be careful. I am commander of the TNI and the police," he said during a meeting with 280 senior TNI and police officers at the Defense Ministry. He refused to name the people he mentioned.
The President said the era that allowed military personnel to be in politics was over and asked the commander or chief of staff to resign should they be interested in politics. "I will grant it, and I will pray for them to succeed," said the Democrat Party chairman. This also applied to all the soldiers, but they only need to give the resignation letter to their commanders.
A number of TNI retiree became politicians and members of presidential candidates' campaign team. The former commander of the army special forces, Prabowo Subianto, is currently running for president with Hatta Rajasa, whose daughter married SBY's youngest son. The Great Indonesian Movement (Gerindra) Party candidate is supported by former military officials.
However, Prabowo claimed that there was no active military and police officers supporting him. "TNI and Polri must be neutral," he said. Gerindra Party chairman, Suhardi, said that Prabowo knew that there were some active TNI personnel who took side in either one of the presidential candidates. But Suhardi refused to go into detail in regards to that information.
FRANSISCO ROSARIANS | AMRI MAHBUB | PRIHANDOKO | IRA GUSLINA SUFA | AHMAD NURHASIM
