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Indonesian Military Asked Not to Get Dragged Along Into Politics
Indonesia's Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) Chief Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu Sunday asked members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) not to get dragged along into politics as in the past.
Speaking to reporters after chairing a gathering of consolidation of Kostrad troops at its headquarters in Central Jakarta, Ryacudu said the TNI should not repeat such past mistake.
"TNI's involvement in politics should not be repeated," he was quoted by the Metro TV television station as saying.
Ryacudu maintained Kostrad troops' loyalty to the leaders of the state and the people.
He also dismissed the speculations of a reshuffle among the TNI's top brass.
More than 800 members of the Kostrad attended the gathering. Ryacudu presided as five officers took turns to read out the "oath of loyalty" to the Republic of Indonesia and the Constitution.
The oath said members of the command would "fight to defend the interest of the people and oppose efforts from whichever sides aimed at disuniting the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia."
The ceremony came a day after rumors said President Abdurrahman Wahid planned to dismiss Army Chief of Staff General Endriartono Sutarto. Wahid and Sutarto had denied the rumors.
On Saturday, the president asked reporters not to trust on false news about the planned dismissal of the Army chief of staff, declaration of the military state of emergency and the dissolution of the House of Representatives (DPR).
The president is under intensifying pressure from the DPR to step down or face impeachment in a leadership struggle in which the military has remained neutral, saying it will defend the Constitution and not any political figure.
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