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