Marianne Kearney, Jakarta – Despite a growing debate over its political role, Indonesia's military has said that it does not want to quit the legislature in 2004.

Sceptics say the move is a bid by the military to retain its influence in parliament and on political parties. Elements of the military are lobbying to extend their seats in the House of Representatives until 2009. This is despite the declarations that the military has made over the past three years that it wants to quit politics and focus on being a force of professional soldiers.

But some legislators from the military have raised objections to a draft law that calls on them to quit their seats after the next election in 2004. In exchange, the proposed law would let them vote, or run as party candidates upon retiring from the force.

Military spokesman Sjafrie Samsoeddin argued that giving police and the military voting rights for the next election while allowing them to run as political candidates contradicted the Constitution, creating legal inconsistencies.

"Passage 93 from the election law is not consistent with constitutional amendment No 7, which says that members of the armed forces cannot vote or participate in elections," said General Sjafrie. He and outgoing armed forces commander Widodo argued that more time was needed to prepare members of the armed forces to understand their democratic rights.

However, sceptics say elements in the military are reluctant to let the force give up its 38 parliamentary seats as they afraid of losing their influence in parliament and on political parties.

"There are some military members who are quite keen to get out but there are some who are quite keen to stay," said analyst Harold Crouch of the Australian National University. "They don't see what is wrong with it."

Other analysts suspect the military wants to retain its hold in parliament to ensure that civilian politicians don't take the threat of separatist conflicts in Aceh and West Papua too lightly.

Recent statements from the military on its role in Indonesian politics seem to confirm their suspicions.

Gen Sjafrie said the military has no desire to be involved in "day to day politics" but added that he felt it should be "involved in the interests of the state". According to him, the "interests of the state' involve 'protecting the territorial boundaries of Indonesia".

The military and former military commanders still hold considerable sway in both national and regional politics across the archipelago. However, some of them fear they will lose too much power if they give up their parliamentary role before 2009, say analysts.

Many regional governors and mayors are former military commanders appointed during the Suharto era. President Megawati Sukarnoputri's Cabinet also consists of several former generals.

Another analyst, Mr Kusnanto Anggoro, said political parties are also reluctant to see the military quit politics because they believe they still need military backing to win elections. However, some more reformist sections of the military have said that the military no longer wanted a role in politics.

Just last week, the head of parliament's military and police faction, Mr Agus Widjojo, said the military would not campaign to remain in parliament beyond 2004. "TNI has no intention of retaining its presence either in the House or the People's Consultative Assembly," he said.