TNI to Avoid Political Parties

VIVAnews - Chief of Indonesian Military (TNI) General Djoko Santoso stated that in addition to implementing a more effective and efficient military budget, the Department of Defense and the Indonesian Military will not be involved in political parties' affairs that will affect the Indonesian Military's neutrality in the 2009 Elections.

"We from the Department of Defense as well as the Indonesian military have made a commitment to stay neutral in the upcoming elections, as mandated by the Law on State Defense and Law on the Indonesian Military," said General Santoso on Tuesday, Jan 13.

According to him, Indonesian Military has no connections with both people outside the Indonesian Military and political organizations. The Indonesian Military has no competency in giving guidelines on political issues. "This is a democratic country. Anyone has a political right without involving the military," he said.

Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono