BIN NEUTRAL IN PRESIDENTIAL RACE: OFFICIAL

Jakarta, June 18 (ANTARA) - The National Intelligence Agency (BIN) keeps a neutral stance in the upcoming presidential elections, according to As'ad Said Ali, BIN deputy chief.

"Since long time ago we are always neutral. Indeed someone has said that BI is not neutral, but it's just a perception," he said after launching his new book entitled "The Pancasila State, Useful Way for the Nation" at Wisma ANTARA here on Thursday.

No BIN official was involved in a campaigning activity of any presidential or vice presidential candidate, he said.

"BIN is loyal to the state, not to a certain party's interest," the BIN official, who had been assigned in a number of Arab countries, said.

He admitted that BIN's intelligence personnel were indeed presence in institutions organizing the upcoming presidential elections, for security reason.

"It's for security because we have been asked by the General Elections Commission to help," he said.

BIN very much respected the democratic process and therefore it did not want to be involved in electoral campaigns, he said.

No presidential candidate asked for BIN's support, he said.

"There is no instruction from the president (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono - SBY) to give him a support in the presidential race. Even Pak SBY once told me 'As'ad, when you visit Islamic boarding schools ('pesantren'), don't campaign for me," he said quoting SBY.

Prabowo, a vice presidential candidate who pairs with presidential hopeful Megawati Soekarnoputri, recently, urged BIN to be neutral in the upcoming presidential polls.

Indonesia will hold its second direct presidential elections on July 8, 2009.

Incumbent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who pairs with Boediono (economist), is competing with other candidates, namely Jusuf Kalla, who pairs with retired general Wiranto, as well as with former president Megawati Soekarnoputri and retired general Prabowo, in the upcoming presidential race.