REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - General Moeldoko has given assurance that the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) will adopt a neutral position during legislative and presidential elections to be held next year.

"Democracy will be in danger if the TNI does not maintain neutrality," Moeldoko said on Tuesday, after being endorsed by the House of Representatives (DPR) to replace the soon-to-retire Admiral Agus Suhartono as the TNI commander.

Moeldoko stated that the Indonesian people need not be concerned about the neutrality of the TNI which was the forefront of national security and defense. He noted that a number of major events would be held across the country in the near future, such as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in October this year and the legislative and presidential elections in 2014.

"The TNI will ensure the security of all APEC members` heads of state taking part in the APEC summit. It is the TNI`s duty," Moeldoko said.

Earlier in the day, the DPR endorsed the proposal of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to replace the outgoing TNI chief, Admiral Agus Suhartono, with Moeldoko. Previously, Deputy Chief of DPR`s Commission I on defense affairs Tubagus Hasanuddin presented before the the DPR session his report containing the results of the fit-and-proper test on Moeldoko.

"After the test report was evaluated, all members of Commission I agreed to endorse the appointment of Moeldoko as the TNI commander," he said.

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