Changes in the military<\/p>\n
Changes in the Armed Forces (ABRI) command are always
\ndescribed as normal. This is especially true when the officer who
\nis replaced has been in his position for quite some time. Dibyo
\nWidodo, for example, has been chief of the Indonesian National
\nPolice since March 15, 1996. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who replaced
\nMaj. Gen. Sutiyoso as Jakarta's military commander, has been in
\nthis post for a relatively short time: eight months.<\/p>\n
But even a mere several months in office may be quite long.
\nMaj. Gen. Johny Lumintang, for example, took over from Lt. Gen.
\nPrabowo Subianto as Commander of Kostrad (Army Strategic Reserves
\nCommand) to remain in that post for just 18 hours. Yet, his
\nreplacement was also described as normal.<\/p>\n
There is something interesting (in this context) in the
\nremarks made by Police chief Dibyo Widodo. He said he was not
\nresigning from the post but was being dismissed. And although he
\ndid not openly say that his present replacement was in some way
\nconnected with the Trisakti shooting incident (in which four
\nstudents died), he did say: \"I'd rather be dismissed than betray
\nmy subordinates and be unable to defend my corps.\"<\/p>\n
Considering that statement, we cannot dismiss the possibility
\nthat his replacement and the Trisakti incident are, in some way,
\nconnected. If that is the case, we have reason to be sad.
\nNevertheless, we still put our faith in the good intentions of
\nthe ABRI leadership for as long as there is no proof that the
\ncurrently circulating speculations are true.<\/p>\n
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/changes-in-the-military-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }