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Minister wants document leak investigated
Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro called on Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen
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efense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro called on Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Moeldoko to launch a probe into the leaking of a confidential document that provided details on Gerindra Party presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto's dismissal from the military.
'I have spoken with [Moeldoko about the leak],' Purnomo said as quoted by tempo.co.
Purnomo said that the document could have been leaked by someone at TNI headquarters.
The document, which has been circulating on the Internet and details the reasons behind Prabowo's discharge on Aug. 21, 1998, has cast doubts on the former general's presidential suitability.
According to the document, Prabowo was dismissed from the military for his role in the kidnapping of pro-democracy activists as well insubordination and disregard for the military code.
The document, which was uploaded on the website indonesia-2014.com last week, could deal a blow to the former general's aspirations to lead the country.
The document reveals Prabowo, who was then commander of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus), spearheaded the kidnapping of pro-democracy activists in 1998 and demonstrated insubordination.
In the document, the Officers Honorary Council (DKP) concluded Prabowo had disgraced and disregarded the military system and committed a criminal offense.
Signatories in the document included then Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the current President; then Army chief of staff Gen. Soebagyo Hadi Siswoyo; Lt. Gen. Fachrul Razi; and Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar.
Prabowo's campaign team confirmed that the document was authentic but that it posed no threat to Prabowo's bid.
The spokesperson for Prabowo's presidential campaign team, Golkar Party politician Tantowi Yahya, welcomed the Defense Minister's move to probe the leak.
'We must investigate the leak of a confidential document. We support all of the Defense Minister's efforts to reveal those who made it public,' he said on Tuesday.
Meanwhile at the National Police, the force called on all officers to be more cautious when interacting with politicians, especially following the brouhaha over the meeting of a police general and a member of the campaign team for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle- (PDI-P) led coalition's presidential candidate Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo.
'The National Police chief instructed all officers to not interact with campaign teams members, as it could create a negative impression,' National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. Ronny F. Sompie said in Jakarta on Tuesday.
'Officers are only authorized to speak with campaign team members about the security and safeguarding of presidential candidates,' he said.
