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No sanction for those behind Prabowo's dismissal leak
Refusing to forget: A member of a Jakarta-based labor union holds a placard that reads: âJail the former general guilty of human rights violations,â at a protest rally in front of the General Elections Commission (KPK) headquarters on Wednesday
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Refusing to forget: A member of a Jakarta-based labor union holds a placard that reads: âJail the former general guilty of human rights violations,â at a protest rally in front of the General Elections Commission (KPK) headquarters on Wednesday. Rights groups have called on the KPU to disqualify the Gerindra Partyâs candidate, Prabowo Subianto, from the presidential election for his alleged role in past human rights violations. (Antara/Andika Wahyu) (KPK) headquarters on Wednesday. Rights groups have called on the KPU to disqualify the Gerindra Partyâs candidate, Prabowo Subianto, from the presidential election for his alleged role in past human rights violations. (Antara/Andika Wahyu)
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span class="inline inline-none">Refusing to forget: A member of a Jakarta-based labor union holds a placard that reads: 'Jail the former general guilty of human rights violations,' at a protest rally in front of the General Elections Commission (KPK) headquarters on Wednesday. Rights groups have called on the KPU to disqualify the Gerindra Party's candidate, Prabowo Subianto, from the presidential election for his alleged role in past human rights violations. (Antara/Andika Wahyu)
Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said his ministry had no authority to punish retired military officers who may have leaked a confidential document that detailed Gerindra Party presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto's dismissal 16 years ago from the Indonesian Military (TNI).
'Retired officers are considered civilians. I can reprimand them as I would a friend, but I don't have direct authority over them,' Purnomo told reporters on Wednesday.
The document, which has been circulating on the Internet in the past week, details the reasons behind Prabowo's dismissal from the military on Aug. 21, 1998.
The leak took place at the height of campaigning ahead of the July 9 presidential election, and is seen by many as an effort to undermine Prabowo's candidacy.
The document ' which was a scanned copy of a letter from the TNI Officer's Honorary Council (DKP) ' revealed that Prabowo, the former Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) commander, was discharged in 1998 for his role in the kidnapping of pro-democracy activists as well for insubordination and a lack of regard for the military code.
The letter was signed by four DKP members, namely 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.
Purnomo reiterated that he had yet to be briefed on the person or persons responsible for the leak, but gave his assurances that no current Defense Ministry officials or active TNI personnel were involved.
'I have been notified by the TNI commander [Gen. Moeldoko] that the military did not leak the document. I don't know who was responsible for that,' he said.
When asked about the possibility that retired officials had been behind the leak, Purnomo said: 'Just ask them. Don't ask us because we are not responsible for the leak.'
All four signatories on the document have retired from military service. Yudhoyono is completing his final months as President, while Agum currently leads the Veterans Association (Pepabri). Agum, Soebagyo and Fachrul have reportedly thrown their support behind Prabowo's presidential contender, Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo.
Another official who had access to the document is former Armed Forces (ABRI, as the TNI was then known) commander Gen. (ret) Wiranto.
Wiranto's Hanura Party has joined the coalition supporting Jokowi's bid.
The non-active Jakarta governor's campaign team has denied its involvement in the leak.
Jokowi's running mate, Jusuf Kalla, pressed Prabowo in the first presidential debate on Monday about his dismissal from the TNI due to allegations of human rights violations.
Prabowo said that only his superiors could judge his performance.
'I am a former soldier who carried out my duty to the best of my ability. Judgment lays with my superiors ['¦] I am the toughest human-rights defender in the republic,' Prabowo said during the debate.
