ELECTIONS HAVE POTENTIAL THREATS: MILY CHIEF

Jakarta, Feb 27 (ANTARA) - Commander of the National Defense Forces (TNI) Gen. Djoko Santoso said the upcoming general elections had great threat potentials so that all military personnel need to remain on guard and increase their alertness.
"With the 2009 general elections drawing nearer, the dynamics of the nation's life is increasing and the political situation is growing hotter," the TNI chief said when receiving 21 high ranking TNI officers who reported their ranks' promotion at the TNI headquarters in Cilangkap here on Friday.
He said that in connection with the dynamics, TNI's personnel should increase alertness and readiness in order to guarantee the smoothness of the implementation of the general elections.
Santoso said that alertness should be among others by continuously keeping an eye on the global, regional and national developments, particularly with regard to the possibility of threats that would undermine national sovereignty and the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
Besides, the TNI personnel should continue to maintain neutrality during the elections. "Because the TNI is a means of defense for the state and belongs to the people, it must be fair for all nation's components and should not involved in practical politics," he added.
In the meantime, TNI Spokesman Rear Marshal Sagom Tamboen said that the TNI's remark on the threat potentials was not a form of intervention by the military in politics.
"What had been stated by the TNI chief on various occasions had made the TNI's position clearer that it will remain neutral in the elections," he said. ***4***