National

DPR: Active TNI Members Can Nominate Themselves in Regional Leaders’ Elections
Thursday, 21 April, 2005 | 01:47 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:House of Representatives (DPR) Commission II chairman Ferry Mursyidan Baldan has said that he considered the nomination of active members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) in the regional leaders’ elections had not yet become involved in practical political aspects.

“They can be considered of having been involved in practical politics if they are involved in political parties,” said Baldan.

He went on to say that the candidates from TNI members could be proposed by a particular party in the elections but this did not mean they were yet part of that party.
Baldan added that there should be no concern about any conflict of interest in the regional leaders’ election process.

“Giving the same rights to all citizens, that’s what is important,” he stated on Monday (18/04).

Akil Mochtar, a member of Golkar party was involved prior to the debate on Law No.32/2004 regarding Regional Government in House Commission II.

He also said that active TNI members can nominate themselves in the regional leaders’ elections based on their rights as citizens.

“Civil servants, Indonesian Military and National Police members have the same rights as other citizens.

Therefore, we can not ban them from nominating themselves in the regional leaders’ election,” said Mochtar, who is now a member of DPR Commission III.

According to him, to lessen any possible conflict of interest, Indonesian Military (TNI) members shall receive a special arrangement, and be permitted to withdraw themselves from structural position.

They however will not be entitled to give up their functional work in the military.

“If they win, these military members will have to become non active as regards their military status,” Mochtar stated.

However, if they do not win, they will have to go back to active duty.

According to Mochtar, the participation of Indonesian Military (TNI) members in the regional leaders’ election does not violate Law No.34/2004 regarding the TNI that bans the TNI’s involvement in practical politics.

“The new regional leaders’ election is only at the nomination stage. This is yet to be part of practical politics,” Mochtar stated. (Yuliawati-Tempo News Room)