PRESIDENT UNDERSCORES CONTINUED NEED FOR THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001924 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2018 TAGS: PGOV PINS MARR ID SUBJECT: PRESIDENT UNDERSCORES CONTINUED NEED FOR THE MILITARY'S NEUTRALITY IN POLITICS JAKARTA 00001924 001.4 OF 002 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: President Yudhoyono emphasized the importance of the Indonesian military's continued political neutrality at the recent celebration of the anniversary of the Indonesian Armed Forces. He also underscored the need for further military reform. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY (Con'd): While it is positive that the military remains largely out of politics, observers continue to assert that security-sector reform is moving too slowly. Two outstanding steps are military justice reform and curbing the military's commercial activities. Yudhoyono's remarks--coming right before campaigning begins in earnest for the 2009 national elections--struck the right note. END SUMMARY. KEY THEME: POLITICAL NEUTRALITY ¶3. (U) GOI officials have underscored the need for the Indonesian military to stay out of politics. In a speech at the TNI's main naval base in Surabaya on October 14, President Yudhoyono--surrounded by a phalanx of high-ranking political and military officials--instructed the armed forces on the 63rd anniversary of its establishment to remain neutral in the 2009 legislative and presidential elections. Yudhoyono commented that while the administration in Jakarta changed every five years, the TNI's loyalty to the state and the country "must be constant." ¶4. (U) Yudhoyono also pledged to continue to support the reforms of the past decade. Although the Cold War was over, he related, the world had not become more peaceful, as military means were still widely employed in attempts to resolve conflicts. Military budgets continued to grow and military technology continued to advance. The chief role of the Indonesian military remained the protection of the nation and its territorial integrity from external threats, Yudhoyono stated. ¶5. (U) Earlier, TNI Commander (Panglima) Djoko Santoso told reporters that all troops had received a pocket-sized book with key rules and regulations and the penalties for failing to obey them. This included what they could and could not do in regard to political activities and in regard to treatment of the civilian populace. Santoso also offered apologies for any misbehavior toward the civilian population by the TNI in the past and remarked that reform of the military could only occur with "the support of the people." ¶6. (U) The TNI's birthday falls on October 5. The event was postponed this year because of the date's proximity to Idul Fitri, the holidays celebrating the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. A CHANGE TO ALLOW MILITARY PERSONNEL TO VOTE? ¶7. (SBU) Yudhoyono did not touch on the issue directly in his remarks, but he intimated that at some point in the future the GOI would try to do away with a regulation that provides that active members of the military cannot vote. The military withdrew from formal political office well ahead of the legislatively mandated date of 2004 and generally has remained out of politics since then. The 2003 Legislative Election law forbade civil servants, police and military personnel from campaigning on behalf of political parties and forbade police and military personnel from voting. The 2008 Legislative Election law still bars civil servants, police and military from campaigning, but does not prohibit police and military personnel from voting. The military, however, enforces a regulation which effectively bans voting by all active duty personnel (arguing that this helps ensure civilian supremacy). JAKARTA 00001924 002.4 OF 002 FAULTING THE SLOW PACE OF REFORM ¶8. (C) There is some concern about the pace of military reform. In comments that echo those of other observers, members of the House of Representatives (DPR) have faulted the government for the slow pace of reform in this area. Andreas Pereira of the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) told us recently that military reform had stalled in recent years. Of 17 bills dealing with reform of the security sector, only one, which banned the use of land mines, had become law. Pereira noted that work on the bill to reform military justice, which he had sponsored, had ground to a halt. Yuddy Chrisnandi of Golkar told us there was a need to complete the sale of TNI businesses, which had been mandated in 2004 legislation to occur by October 2009, only a year away. (Note: A governmental commission is working on recommendations on how the military can move forward on the sale of its interests.) THE RIGHT NOTE ¶9. (C) Yudhoyono's remarks--coming right before campaigning begins in earnest for the 2009 national elections--struck the right note. It is positive that the military remains largely outside of the political realm, but another reminder does not hurt. A former general himself, Yudhoyono maintains credibility with the military and his voice is listened to. That said, critics are correct that military reform has moved very slowly. While underscoring support for the process, the government has not really made it a high priority. HEFFERN