Army's Chief Guarantees Military Force's Neutrality During Election

Jakarta (Antara) - The Indonesian Army chief, General Budiman, has offered a guarantee of the military's neutrality prior to and during the presidential election that will be held on July 9, 2014. General Budiman said, after briefing 390 army officers at the Army's headquarters in Central Jakarta on Monday, Indonesian Army personnel will remain neutral during the election monitoring process and stressed that some sanctions on any violation had been decided, including dismissal. "We give a guarantee for the future, we also have honor and responsibility that we will remain neutral for the sake of fairness and truthfulness to the Indonesian people," Budiman added. The army's chief added that if a member of the army was proven guilty of violating the rule related to neutrality, moreover if the member was sued with the criminal law, then he will be fired. "But if the case has not reached the criminal law yet, then there is also a regulation for it," he said. Budiman also addressed President Yudhoyono's remarks about the neutrality of the military, which he had delivered during a briefing with the high-level officers of the Indonesian Military and the police force. "My comment about it was that the army needs self-introspection and retrospection," he said. (*)