House approves Ryamizard nomination<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Bandung<\/p>\n
In a move that could worsen its relationship with President
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the House of Representatives' defense
\ncommission said it had endorsed Army chief Gen. Ryamizard
\nRyacudu's nomination as new Indonesian Military (TNI) chief.<\/p>\n
House Commission I chairman Theo L. Sambuaga told the press
\nthat the decision would be put before a plenary meeting for
\napproval next week.<\/p>\n
\"We have endorsed the nomination of Ryamizard (as TNI chief).
\nWe hope the President will install him soon,\" Theo said.<\/p>\n
House Commission I had been assigned to discuss former
\npresident Megawati Soekarnoputri's letter on the appointment of
\nRyamizard as acting TNI chief following the resignation of Gen.
\nEndriartono Sutarto.<\/p>\n
Susilo sent a letter to House leaders last week to withdraw
\nMegawati's letter, but they ignored his letter, arguing that
\nMegawati was the legitimate president when she submitted the
\nletter.<\/p>\n
\"Legally, Gen. Ryamizard has become the new TNI chief, but the
\ninauguration will depend on President Susilo,\" commission member
\nHappy Bone Zulkarnaen said.<\/p>\n
Susilo had said earlier that he still wanted Endriartono, who
\nhad reached his mandatory retirement age of 55 in 2002, to remain
\nfor the time being as TNI chief.<\/p>\n
By law, the President has the sole authority to appoint the
\nTNI chief, but he\/she is obliged to get House approval.<\/p>\n
Endriartono said in Bandung on Friday that the replacement of
\nthe TNI chief was legitimate only if done through a presidential
\ndecree.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, dozens of legislators submitted on Friday a
\npetition to summon Susilo over his decision to revoke Megawati's
\nletter.<\/p>\n
The proposal was received by House Speaker Agung Laksono, who
\nwas accompanied by deputy speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno.<\/p>\n
The petition will be taken up at a plenary meeting some time
\nnext week.<\/p>\n
Although the proposal was initiated by legislators from the
\nanti-Susilo Nationhood Coalition, Djoko Edhi Soetjipto of the
\nNational Mandate Party (PAN), and a Susilo supporter, also signed
\nthe letter.<\/p>\n
Djoko said that, as a legislator, he had the right to seek an
\nexplanation from the President over his decision to revoke the
\nletter of his predecessor.<\/p>\n
PAN faction chairman Abdillah Toha, however, said that the
\nmove made by Djoko was not the policy of his faction. \"I will
\nhave a chat with him about it,\" Abdillah said.<\/p>\n
State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra said that the government
\nwas ready to meet them.<\/p>\n
\"Let the people judge whose argument is stronger. As the head
\nof state, the President has the authority to arrange the
\nleadership of TNI,\" Yusril said.<\/p>\n
\"Only the President has the authority to replace the TNI
\nchief, not the House and they have to stop dragging the military
\ninto the political feud,\" he added.<\/p>\n
He contended that the House no longer had the authority to
\ndecide on the TNI chief's replacement as mandated by the People's
\nConsultative Assembly decree No. 6\/2000, because that decree was
\nno longer valid.<\/p>\n
\"They are not actually authorized to discuss the letter that
\nhas been withdrawn, so who has actually started the conflict?\"
\nYusril asked.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)
\nfaction chairman Sutjipto said that the weeks-long deadlock
\nshould be resolved in a plenary meeting.<\/p>\n
\"We will reach a final solution at the plenary meeting. We
\nwill see then who has good intentions and who does not,\" he told
\nthe press after an internal meeting here on Friday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-approves-ryamizard-nomination-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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