Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Out on a leisurely stroll with a colleague and some reporters, legislator Ade Daud Nasution did not see it coming.

After the confirmation of Air Marshal Djoko Suyanto to head the Indonesian Military (TNI), Ade took a walk with colleague Ali Mochtar Ngabalin and the reporters to discuss the hearing in the House of Representatives.

As they returned to the ground floor chamber for Commission 1 on security and defense, which conducted Suyanto's hearing, Ade was confronted by three well-built men.

They asked him about his question to Suyanto on Wednesday, the first day of the hearing. Ade had asked the Air Force chief if he would be willing to take on the military's food supplier, amid longstanding allegations of corrupt procurement practices.

Ade's question had been flippant, saying there were four armed forces chiefs of staff -- Kasad (Army), Kasau (Air Force), Kasal (Naval) and "Kasan", the latter an acronymn for the food supply chief of staff and also referring to Kasan Gunawan, the military's main food supplier.

"The three chief of staffs have always been rotated but Kasan remains in his seat. Would you do something about it?" said the Reform Star Party legislator, who supported Suyanto's bid.

Ade, a former entrepreneur, did not respond to the men's increasingly heated demands for an explanation Thursday. As Ali Mochtar tried to calm them down, one of them, wearing a black, short-sleeved shirt, lashed out.

Ade dodged the first strike, but was caught on the forehead by the second, with a gash apparently caused by his assailant's ring. Security guards and police officers quickly apprehended the three men and took them to a police post located in the House complex.

The man who hit Ade was later identified as Edi Sanjaya. He refused to comment, although reporters noticed he was wearing military-style camouflage under his safari shirt.

Ade was treated at a medical center at the House.

Other legislators were shocked by the incident.

"This is a cruel violation," said Commission I Chairman Theo Sambuaga.

Commission I leaders ordered legislators Setiaji and Sikib Wahab to file a formal complaint with the police. Ade himself later reported the incident to the Jakarta Police.

He surmised he was attacked because of his question about the food supplier.

"But it could be from other people with political motives," he said.

Ade said that he would report the case to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the world's parliamentary forum because "I have immunity to say anything during the House sessions".