Army chief denies new TNI reshuffle<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
\ndismissed on Thursday speculation that there would soon be a
\nmajor reshuffle in the Indonesian Military (TNI).<\/p>\n
\"There is a standard mechanism that is followed if there is a
\nplanned reshuffle in the TNI's top posts.<\/p>\n
\"First, the President must propose the candidates to the House
\nof Representatives in order to secure their approval,\"
\nEndriartono told The Jakarta Post by phone.<\/p>\n
\"To date, the TNI has yet to submit the names of any
\ncandidates to the President,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Endriartono was commenting on widespread rumors that TNI chief
\nAdm. Widodo AS would soon be replaced by the chief of the TNI's
\nStrategic Intelligence Body (Bais) Vice Marshall Ian Santoso
\nPerdanakusuma.<\/p>\n
Reports have it that Ian, a 1971 Air Force Academy (AAU)
\ngraduate, had been selected as an alternative candidate for TNI
\nchief after incumbent Air Force chief Marshall Hanafie Asnan
\nturned down the posting due to ill health.<\/p>\n
Hanafie, a 1969 Air Force Academy graduate, reportedly also
\nrejected the offer as he was already past the mandatory
\nretirement age of 55 years of age.<\/p>\n
Rumors also have it that the current TNI Chief of Territorial
\nAffairs Lt. Gen. Agus Widjojo has been selected to replace
\nEndriartono as the Army chief.<\/p>\n
The nomination of Agus, a 1970 Armed Forces Academy (Akabri)
\ngraduate, to replace Endriartono was made after the two front-
\nrunners -- incumbent Army Assistant Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Kiki
\nSyahnakrie and incumbent Army Strategic Reserves Command
\n(Kostrad) chief Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu -- reportedly rejected
\nthe post on the grounds that they still had work to do in
\nrespectively straightening out the Army and Kostrad.<\/p>\n
Endriartono, however, dismissed the speculation that he would
\nbe replaced and be assigned to a staff posting at TNI
\nheadquarters.<\/p>\n
Rumors were also rife that President Abdurrahman Wahid has
\nalready issued a decree on Endriartono's replacement.<\/p>\n
\"It (the planned reshuffle) is all rumors. Army headquarters
\nhasn't held any further meetings on a command reshuffle since our
\nlast reshuffle in February,\" Endriartono said, while citing that
\nit was within the President's prerogative to replace the chiefs
\nof the Army, Navy and Air Force.<\/p>\n
\"But to date, Gus Dur has yet to summon me to specifically
\ndiscuss my replacement. Neither have I been informed about
\nwhether I will be transferred,\" the four-star general said.<\/p>\n
Separately, deputy speaker of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR) from the TNI\/National Police faction Lt. Gen. Hari
\nSabarno said any reshuffle in the TNI's top posts must secure the
\napproval of the House.<\/p>\n
\"Based on the MPR decree, the President must obtain the
\nHouse's approval before he can replace the TNI chief and the
\nNational Police chief.<\/p>\n
\"If it is planned to replace the TNI chief, there are certain
\nrequirements that a candidate must fulfill.<\/p>\n
\"He (the candidate) must be a professional soldier, have an
\nexcellent educational background and a clear track record, and
\nhave experience serving with the Special Force,\" Hari said as
\nquoted by Antara, while claiming that the post of TNI chief did
\nnot always have to be rotated among officers of the Army, Navy
\nand Air Force.<\/p>\n
Hari said the frequent reshuffles in the TNI's top ranks would
\naffect the military's solidity and professionalism.<\/p>\n
\"If we frequently replace our maids, we'll never be satisfied
\nwith their work,\" he said, while pointing out that Endriartono
\nhad only been in office for less than five months while
\nEndriartono's predecessor, Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, only lasted in
\nthe post for less than a year. (02)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/army-chief-denies-new-tni-reshuffle-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}