JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the largest political party outside the government, demands the National Police to remain neutral during next year’s legislative and presidential elections.
“If they (Police) are neutral, we believe there would be an honest and fair elections,” said Trimedya Pandjaitan, PDI-P legislator at the House Commission III (overseeing police institution).
This afternoon (Sep 16), the House Commission III holds a working meeting with the Chief of National Police General Timur Pradopo. Members of the Commission reportedly will focus the discussion on the preparation of police to secure next year’s elections, including their neutrality during the elections. Some members of the Commission express worries that police will be used to protect certain political party.
In a related progress, another PDI-P legislator, Tjahjo Kumolo, has earlier doubted the neutrality of the military in next year’s elections. The Secretary General of PDI-P has asked the newly Commander of Military, General Moeldoko, to keep the military to remain neutral during the elections.
Police and military are still two of strategic institutions with crucial roles in next year’s elections. The doubtness over the neutrality of both police and military continue flowing even though both National Police Chief and Military Commander have repeatedly guaranteed and stated that they had ordered commanders in the field to prevent their personnels from getting involved in politics before, during, and after the elections. (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)