Chief Security Minister Denies Camps of Army Generals

Nadi, Fiji (Antara) - Indonesia's chief security minister Djoko Suyanto denied here on Thursday that there were camps of army generals in the country's defense forces supporting different candidates for the presidential election on July 9. "Allow me to correct the misconception. There are no camps. Active army generals do not take sides. What has happened is that retired generals who have a right to vote support different candidates," he remarked. Regarding rumor among the public about the recommendation of the Honorary Council of Officers (DKP) to former army special forces commander Lieutenant General Prabowo Subianto in connection with his role in the 1998 case, Djoko Suyanto said he hoped all parties will study the presidential decree about it. "Indeed, a DKP's decision exists. And in 1998, it was publicly known that Prabowo was dismissed. Please read the presidential decree carefully. It indeed states that (Prabowo) was discharged honorably based on the proposal of the then commander of the armed forces (ABRI). Also, the ABRI commander certainly referred to the results of the DKP meeting," he added. The chief of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), Marciano Noorman, shared Djoko Suyanto's statement regarding the impression of the presence of camps of retired army generals in connection with the presidential election on July 9. "We do not view it as rival camps of active generals. They are retired generals and thus have become common citizens. So, they also have the same right as other civilians," he noted. Prabowo paired with former economic minister Hatta Rajasa is currently running for president and will compete against Joko Widodo paired with former vice president Jusuf Kalla as his running mate. (*) Reported by Panca Hari Prabowo EDITED BY INE