"The TNI will not be involved in supporting candidates. This means it will remain neutral," he said here on Wednesday in response to a statement by the Association of Army Retirees (PPAD) regarding a foreign embassy that had requested it to nominate former finance minister Sri Mulyani as a candidate for the presidential election in 2014.
No high ranking officer would give support to Sri Mulyani, he said after attending a working meeting of the National Border Management Agency (BNPP).
"It is common for officers to gather such as during morning or afternoon roll calls. If there is anyone asking for support we will not meet it," he said.
The PPAD revealed that a foreign party through an embassy had offered to promote Sri Mulyani as a candidate for the presidential election in 2014.
The PPAD chief, retired lieutenant general Soerjadi, said on Tuesday the offer was made directly by an embassy official who had come to meet with a number of retirees in Jakarta some time ago.
"Around three weeks ago an embassy provoked several retired high ranking officers to nominate Sri Mulyani. They added the TNI would do the same," Soerjadi said.
The polemics on figures for the 2014 presidential election had emerged due to the country`s uncertain conditions.
"Right now Indonesia needs a savior. People have become impatient to wait until 2014. The governance has deviated from the independence ideals," the former army chief of staff said. (*)
(H-YH/HAJM/A014)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
