APSN | 'Misunderstanding' over TNI canvassing, investigation finds

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'Misunderstanding' over TNI canvassing, investigation finds

Jakarta Globe - June 8, 2014

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Farouk Arnaz, Jakarta – The investigation held by the army into allegations that a soldier encouraged residents of a Central Jakarta neigborhood to vote for Prabowo Subianto has found that the incident was a misunderstanding.

"The Army chief of staff Gen. Budiman has instructed Jakarta military commander Maj. Gen. Mulyono to thoroughly check the allegations," Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Andika Perkasa said in a written statement on Sunday.

"The results showed that Corporal Rusfandi, who received an instruction to carry out tasks in Cideng [Central Jakarta], had not meant to tell A.T. [and other local residents he visited] to vote for one of the presidential candidates."

Andika added that the officer had meant to collect data regarding local residents' preference in the 2014 presidential election.

"This is a misunderstanding," he said. "When A.T. did not immediately give an answer upon being asked for his preference, Rusfandi tried to confirm his answer by pointing toward the picture of the presidential candidate's political party."

Andika said it was merely coincidence that the picture the officer pointed at was that of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra).

"This then gave the impression that Rusfandi was 'instructing' A.T. to vote for one of the presidential candidates. But, even so, Rusfandi's actions were still wrong," he said, adding that the military had never instructed any of its members to collect data on people's voting intentions in the upcoming election.

Andika said the survey had been conducted at the officer's own initiative and that the officer was not aware of his tasks because he had been working in the Gambir local military command only for a month, after previously working in Medan, North Sumatra.

"The Gambir military commander Captain Inf. Saliman, Rusfandi's superior, also didn't conduct his duties professionally and did not understand his responsibilities," he added.

Saliman had sent Rusfandi into the field without adequate briefing and failed to reprimand Rusfandia or prevent his actions, Andika said.

"Rusfandi is guilty of a disciplinary violation as he did not carry out his duties and responsibilities professionally and did not understand his duties as stipulated in the Soldiers' Disciplinary Law," Andika said.

Rusfandi will be detained for 21 days as a result of his actions and will also see his promotion postponed for three periods, or 18 months. Andika said Saliman will also be sanctioned for failing to professionally conduct his duties and will also have his promotion postponed for one period, or six months.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/jakarta/misunderstanding-tni-canvassing-investigation-finds/.