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BIN chief stirs poll row over conflict of interest

Straits Times - March 6, 2004

Jakarta – Indonesia's intelligence chief Hendropriyono has sparked off a controversy by allowing himself to be listed as a national campaigner for the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in the coming election.

Mr Didik Supriyanto, a member of the Election Supervisory Committee, has raised objections to this, warning that Mr Hendropriyono could misuse intelligence reports for the benefit of PDI-P and its leader, President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

He has urged the intelligence chief who heads the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) to forgo his plans. BIN is the coordinating agency for all intelligence activities in the country.

"If Megawati is a true state leader, she must not allow Hendropriyono to campaign for any political party," Mr Didik said.

Mr Hendropriyono officially joined the country's largest party in 2001 and is currently a member of the party's consultative board. "BIN must remain neutral and its chief should be banned from campaigning," Mr Didik said.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also joined in the debate and said BIN reports belonged to the state. "BIN intelligence information must not be used for personal interests, let alone a political party," he said.

Voicing a similar concern, Vice-President Hamzah Haz said that it would be difficult for Mr Hendropriyono to maintain his credibility as intelligence chief if he served one political party. "Although other state officials may serve as campaigners, the BIN chief has to show his neutrality," Mr Hamzah said on Thursday.

Another voice of dissent came from a senior PDI-P member, Mr Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, who is also a House deputy speaker. Mr Soetardjo said BIN, like the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police, should not side with any party. "I think it is better for him [Mr Hendropriyono] to stay neutral in the elections," Mr Soetardjo said.

In the absence of a regulation on the intelligence chief's political rights, PDI-P listed Mr Hendropriyono as one of its national campaigners on Wednesday. PDI-P deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung said Ms Megawati had told all party members in the Cabinet to campaign, but "Hendropriyono may be exempted".