Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – The fall of Soeharto may have been seen as the end of the era of military involvement in politics, but more than a decade after the reform movement, the faces of generals remain entrenched on the political stage.
Three of the nine political parties at the House of Representatives are chaired or patronized by former generals.
Former Indonesia Military (TNI) chief of territorial staff Gen. (ret.) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is President and chief patron of the Democratic Party, the leading party in the coalition government.
Former Army Strategic Reserves Command chief Lt. Gen. (ret.) Prabowo Subianto is the chief patron of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), while former TNI commander Gen. (ret.) Wiranto led the People's Conscience Party (Hanura).
Other House parties, such as the Golkar Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), also have retired generals on their executive boards or as representatives at the House.
Several other political parties that failed to gain House seats in the 2009 elections, were also led by former top-level military brass such as the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI), led by Lt. Gen. (ret.) Sutiyoso, and the Republican Party, chaired by Lt. Gen. (ret.) Syahrir.
This trend is not likely to end soon, as retired high-ranking military officers hold top posts at some of the new parties planning to campaign in 2014. The parties include the National Republic (Nasrep) Party, co-founded by Maj. Gen. (ret.) Edy Waluyo who is the party's deputy chief patron, and the Satria Piningit Party, which hired Col. (ret.) Ismunandar as one of its executives.
Many have speculated why retired soldiers enter politics and what advantages they afford their respective political parties. Some believe that the retired generals possess valuable skills and expertise in areas such as territorial management, mass mobilization and have contacts in remote areas.
Generals typically command large military units of hundreds of soldiers, a job that requires charisma and leadership, qualities the retired generals make use of in the political arena.
Edy denied that the Nasrep Party had hired him because of his military background. "Since I have retired from the barracks, I have no longer been a soldier. I am an ordinary citizen now, just like you" he told The Jakarta Post recently.
Edy, who lost a nominated bid to be PDI-P's Jakarta gubernatorial candidate for the 2007 election, said he joined politics to "maintain the nation's Pancasila and 1945 Constitution, as well as to defend the Unitary State of Indonesia (NKRI)."
Achieving that goal, he said, required an umbrella organization such as a political party. PDI-P lawmaker Lt. Gen. (ret.) Tubagus Hasanuddin stated a similar opinion: "I want to serve this country through politics," he said.
Hasanuddin, a vocal politician regarding foreign affairs, security and defense, said many had accused him of being a spy who was "installed" at the House. "I'm telling you once again, my political career is purely my decision. Nobody made me or ordered me to do so," he said.
Some soldiers decided against join political parties, but it does not make them any less political.
The Association of Indonesian Army Retirees (PPAD) recently made strong statements criticizing Yudhoyono's administration. It blasted Yudhoyono for what it called a lack of firmness in tackling several significant graft cases.
In March, former Army chief of staff Gen. (ret.) Tyasno Sudarto, along with some other former generals, accused Yudhoyono of being less than nationalistic and failing to uphold the Constitution by allowing the establishment of local political parties in Aceh. The generals also expressed their disagreement with Yudhoyono's liberal policies.
Although the PPAD said it was a non-political organization, the statements have colored the political dynamic, as Yudhoyono is a retired general himself.
Military expert Wawan Purwanto said the presence of the retired generals in political parties' top posts did not necessarily guarantee strong influence and benefit to the parties.
"The retirees are now truly regular citizens. Their skills may be beneficial [for the parties] but, in many cases, I see that they began their political careers because of their lasting desire to 'serve the nation'," he said.