Retired Army And Police Members Neutral: Chief

Bengkulu, March 19 (Antara) - Retired army and police members will be neutral and will not side with any political parties or presidential candidates in the upcoming legislative and presidential elections in Indonesia, retired army general Agum Gumelar clarified. The Association of Retired Army and Police Members and Widows of Army and Police Members (Pepabri), "as an institution, must be neutral in the 2014 legislative and presidential elections," Agum, General Chairman of the association, commented in Bengkuku on Wednesday. Agum was in the Sumatran province to attend a meeting of the regional chapter of Pepabri. As an institution, Pepabri is neutral but "as retired army or police officers, its members have an equal political right like the common people." Regarding former army and police officers, who have been active in political organizations or parties, Agum explained that it was a normal thing. They have equal rights like other civilians, he explained, adding that Pepabri as an institution will not side with them. He clarified that Pepabri will also be neutral with regard to several former military officials who will run for the president, such as retired general Prabowo and retired general Wiranto and retired general Pramono Edhie Wibowo. As retired army or police members, they do have political rights, which are equal to those of civilians, including the rights to elect and to be elected, he explained. He added that many retired army and police members have been involved in political organizations or parties in the country. As the chief of Pepabri, he hoped that they will maintain their character as former army members, wherever they will be.