Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told the Indonesian Military (TNI) on Friday to help the country's drive toward democracy by staying out of politics.

"The military must consistently keep a distance from any form of political practice, just like they have in the past nine years," Yudhoyono said. "Let us hope that no door will open for any military political comeback."

Yudhoyono was speaking at a ceremony to commemorate the TNI's 62nd anniversary at the military's headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.

A political observer from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Indra J Pilliang, said that Yudhoyono's speech indicated a more conservative stance, especially the expectation that the TNI should maintain a distance from political activities.

Indra told The Jakarta Post other countries like the US government let their military personnel exercise their political rights through voting, and this satisfied the soldiers because they were be able to channel their political views and contribute to the country.

"President Yudhoyono should honor the political rights of military personnel by allowing them to vote but not allowing the military organization too much influence because that would not be health for democracy," he said.

"We must learn from the country's past mistake, when the New Order regime insisted that the House of Representatives provide seats for the then Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI)."

The New Order allotted 100 seats at the House of Representatives to ABRI in every general election during president Soeharto's 32-year tenure.

Currently, the TNI has approximately 398,000 personnel, including the Army with 300,000 personnel, the Navy with 69,000 sailors and the Air Force with 29,000. However, almost half of them live on a monthly salary ranging from Rp 1 million to Rp 1.5 million (US$110 to $165).

Yudhoyono said in his speech the military top brass must do more to improve the welfare of military personnel. "I support efforts to improve housing access for soldiers through the servicemen savings program," he said.

"The government will keep improving the welfare of personnel, as well as the welfare of people in other professions, like civil servants and teachers, in line with the ability of the state budget."

The government is deliberating implementing regulations for the law on the TNI, which aims to improve the situation of military personnel. These regulations will include stipulations the TNI give up its business interests and turn all assets over to the government.

Almost 70 percent of the TNI's annual budget is derived from its diversified business activities. This year's defense budget is set at Rp 32 trillion (around $63 billion)

Indonesian Military spokesman Rear Marshal Sagom Tamboen said the TNI would turn over all its business units to the government but was demanding the government be responsible for fulfilling all of the military's budgetary needs.