WIRANTO: PRESIDENT HAD BETTER DO "SELF-ASSESSMENT"

Jakarta, Jan 31 (ANTARA) - Hanura (People's Conscience) Party leader Wiranto said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should do some "self-assessment" on his performance rather than respond to rumors about military and police officers engaging in practical politics.
"It would be better if he did some self-assessment or ask himself whether the achievements claimed in his campaign advertisements are true," Wiranto said at the Soekarno-Hatta airport here on Saturday before leaving for Malaysia.
The former military commander was commenting on the president's statement on Thursday that he had received unconfirmed information that a number of military and police officers were engaged in practical politics and supporting a certain presidential candidate. Yudhoyono was then speaking about the need for the military and police to observe strict neutrality in the upcoming general elections.
Wiranto said the president had better evaluate his own performance, instead of trying to find out who had spread the "rumor."
Wiranto said, the president needed to ask himself whether his policies so far had benefited the people, including the families of servicemen and police personnel.
He said, "soldiers and policemen are now also facing problems in supporting their families. They are also being affected by the current crisis and need the government's attention."
In his address to participants of TNI and Police leadership meetings at the State Palace on Thursday, the president disclosed that there were rumors about high-ranking military officers who were politically active under the slogan "so long as the presidential candidate is not 'S'." Certain police officers were also said to be building support for a certain presidential candidate.
The president on the occasion however also said that he did not believe the hearsay.
The military and police have officially pledged not to engage in practical politics and would remain neutral in the legislative elections on April 9 this year and the presidential election in July.