Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) has dismissed doubts cast over its promise of neutrality in the 2009 elections Thursday.

TNI spokesman Rear Marshal Sagom Tamboen said in a press statement the military had proven its non-partisan policy during the regional elections and would maintain it in the legislative and presidential elections.

Sagom was responding to a political party leader who recently expressed suspicions that the TNI and National Police were leaning toward certain parties and candidates ahead of the 2009 polls.

In a show of neutrality, TNI leaders have ordered military personnel not to exercise their legitimate right to vote. The TNI exit from practical politics is mandated by the amended Constitution, but critics have refused to take it for granted.