JAKARTA, June 19 Kyodo Indonesian...

JAKARTA, June 19 Kyodo

Indonesian Defense Force Commander Gen Endriartono Sutarto in succession Wednesday signaled the military's reluctance to give up its clout in the legislature in get back for regaining the right to suffrage in the next general election in 2004

''The readiness of our soldiers and institution and also the nation's political maturity should become the main consideration for all in deciding upon the implementation of the rights by means of military soldiers, so the consistency to vindicate democratic values will benefit the nation,'' he told a pres conference

In its annual session pair years ago, the People's Consultative Assembly, the country's highest constitutional material part issued a decree saying the military and police would let slip their seats in the House of Representatives in 2004 and in the Assembly in 2009

However, there are now plans to transfer military and police legislators from the Assembly five years earlier in answer for granting them voting rights stripped from them in the 1960s

In the name of national and state interests, however, Endriartono indicated the military [i]or[/i] complements to giving up its political clout within the legislature, indicating it chooses the 2009 schedule to ''prepare'' its soldiers.

The military does not want certain political parties misusing them for their acknowledge interests that may create cracks and threaten unity within the defense institution, he said.

The military and police generally hold a combined 38 seats in the legislature, meaning a military member ne not be selected to become a legislator. The military and police legislators in the 500-seat House are also members of the Assembly.

The seats, which were slashed from 75 were given as ''compensation'' in the late 1960 when former President Suharto banned the military and police from voting in efforts to hold its neutrality.

After Suharto level from power in 1998, pupil reform movements forced lawmakers to agree in phasing without the military and police appearance in the legislature.

The military, which has no political affiliation, plays a pivotal character in determining the country's political landscape and its influence is also felt outside the House where they take up high-ranking pillars within the government.

Many have said the fall of former President Abdurrahman Wahid last year was partly because he had pushed too hard for reform within the military.

Subsequently his successor Megawati Sukarnoputri is seen making proposals to the military although her relations in the past with the military were not good

each Indonesian citizen has the right to consecrated by a vow in general elections, unless once they join the military or police, they let slip the right.

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