House backs Endriartono's bid for military chief<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
To the surprise of many, the House of Representatives (DPR) has
\nsent a letter of approval to President Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nsaying that it supported Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono
\nSutarto's nomination as chief of the Indonesian Military (TNI),
\nreplacing Adm. Widodo A.S.<\/p>\n
A Golkar legislator from the House's Commission I on political
\nand security affairs, Yasril Ananta Baharuddin, confirmed on
\nMonday that the approval was sent immediately after House Speaker
\nAkbar Tandjung received Commission 1's recommendation last
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
Yasril said that the House leaders required no approval from a
\nplenary session because the commission had evaluated the \"vision
\nand mission\" of Endriartono on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"The recommendation of Commission I is important. We've been
\ntasked with assessing the performance of the candidate,\" he told
\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman of the commission Ishak Latuconsina
\nacknowledged that the commission had endorsed the nomination of
\nEndriartono.<\/p>\n
\"A plenary session will only be a formality to hear the
\nHouse's approval because the decision has been made. That's all,\"
\nIshak added.<\/p>\n
By securing the House's approval, Endriartono will likely only
\nneed Megawati's signature to be the next TNI chief.<\/p>\n
Endriartono was named military chief candidate by Megawati in
\na letter sent to the House on May 10. At a plenary session on May
\n13, the House assigned Commission I to determine if the Army
\nchief of staff was fit and proper to lead the military.<\/p>\n
During Wednesday's hearing, Endriartono pledged that he would
\nimprove the welfare of low-ranking soldiers.<\/p>\n
He said the future challenges faced by the nation would
\nconsist of the transition to democracy, regional autonomy, law
\nenforcement, decentralization, and the advocacy for civil
\nsociety.<\/p>\n
He emphasized that the current transitional process to
\ndemocracy needed serious supervision, so that it would remain on
\nthe right track.<\/p>\n
Deputy House speaker A.M. Fatwa said that the House was not in
\na position to reject the nomination because there was only one
\ncandidate.<\/p>\n
Endriartono, born in the Central Java town of Purworejo on
\nApril 29, 1947, and who graduated from the Army Academy in 1971,
\nwas appointed the Army deputy chief in March 2000 and promoted to
\nhis current job in October 2000.<\/p>\n
Endriartono's nomination had drawn criticism because he should
\nhave reached his mandatory retirement age of 55 on April. But
\nAdm. Widodo extended Endriatono's office term until 2007.<\/p>\n
The next question will be who will be the next person to lead
\nthe Army. Army's Strategic Reserves (Kostrad) Commander Lt. Gen.
\nRyamizard Ryacudu and TNI Chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen.
\nDjamari Chaniago have risen to the surface as possible
\nreplacement for Endriartono.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-backs-endriartonos-bid-for-military-chief-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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