ID :
40435
Tue, 01/13/2009 - 16:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/40435
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TNI`S NEUTRALITY WELL PRESERVED : DEFENSE MINISTER
Jakarta, Jan 13 (ANTARA) - Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said the National Defense Forces (TNI) had performed well in maintaining its neutrality.
"Over the past four years, the TNI's neutrality has been maintained well. In fact, in a better way than those of militaries in other countries," Sudarsono said after chairing a Defense Ministry leadership meeting here on Tuesday.
He said the TNI has been able to maintain its neutrality and remained equi-distant from all political interests.
The relatively small amount of defense budget funds which had an impact on the welfare of soldiers would not influence the TNI's neutrality , especially in this year's general elections, Sudarsono said.
Speaking on the same occasion, TNI Chief Gen Djoko Santoso said the TNI and bodies related to it including its pensioners had no organizational ties with any political parties.
Therefore, TNI personnel were not in position to mobilize their family members for any partisan political purposes.
"The TNI dis not in a position to mobilize or influence the political choices of its members. We are in a democratic country and therefore everybody, including TNI family members, have political rights," he said.
He added the TNI Headquarters had issued pocket books on the TNI's neutrality in 2008 which had been distributed to all TNI soldiers and their family members in the face of the 2009 general elections.
"Over the past four years, the TNI's neutrality has been maintained well. In fact, in a better way than those of militaries in other countries," Sudarsono said after chairing a Defense Ministry leadership meeting here on Tuesday.
He said the TNI has been able to maintain its neutrality and remained equi-distant from all political interests.
The relatively small amount of defense budget funds which had an impact on the welfare of soldiers would not influence the TNI's neutrality , especially in this year's general elections, Sudarsono said.
Speaking on the same occasion, TNI Chief Gen Djoko Santoso said the TNI and bodies related to it including its pensioners had no organizational ties with any political parties.
Therefore, TNI personnel were not in position to mobilize their family members for any partisan political purposes.
"The TNI dis not in a position to mobilize or influence the political choices of its members. We are in a democratic country and therefore everybody, including TNI family members, have political rights," he said.
He added the TNI Headquarters had issued pocket books on the TNI's neutrality in 2008 which had been distributed to all TNI soldiers and their family members in the face of the 2009 general elections.
