House pressures government on new TNI commander<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives has urged the government to
\nimmediately submit the names of candidates to replace Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) chief Endriartono Sutarto, giving a three-week
\ndeadline before the legislature goes into recess at the end of
\nthis month.<\/p>\n
\"This is just a reminder because the President promised to
\nsubmit a name(s) in August. We don't want this issue to slip his
\nmind amid the mounting problems the government faces,\" House
\nSpeaker Agung Laksono said on Monday.<\/p>\n
The House, he said, had three weeks left before going into a
\nmonth-long recess, thus the remaining time could be used to find
\na replacement for Sutarto.<\/p>\n
Having surpassed the retirement age of 55, Sutarto has
\nfrequently expressed a desire to resign.<\/p>\n
Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri proposed former Army
\nchief of staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, 57, apparently a House
\nfavorite, to replace Sutarto during the last weeks of her
\nadministration last year.<\/p>\n
However, Megawati's proposal was later withdrawn by President
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono after he succeeded her last October.<\/p>\n
At present, only four military officers are eligible for the
\npost. They are Ryamizard, who is only one year away from retiring
\nat 58 years of age, current Army Chief of Staff Gen. Djoko
\nSantoso, Navy Chief of Staff Gen. Djoko Suyanto and Air Force
\nChief of Staff Gen. Slamet Subianto.<\/p>\n
Under the law on the TNI, only those who have been or
\ncurrently are a chief of staff and are still active military men
\ncan be elected military chief.<\/p>\n
The law also states that the election of a TNI chief must
\nobtain approval from the House after undergoing screening. Should
\nthe House fail to approve a candidate, the President must submit
\na new name.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman of House Commission I on defense and foreign
\naffairs Effendy Choirie said Sutarto's desire to resign should be
\nreason enough to name a replacement.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, Sutarto is very much a senior military man, we need
\nswift regeneration. The President said a new TNI chief would be
\nnamed quickly after the selection of a new police chief,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Gen. Sutanto became the new National Police chief in July
\nafter obtaining House approval in June.<\/p>\n
Effendy said the public was looking for a new TNI chief who
\nwas militarily professional and neutral, one who would avoid
\nbeing politicized or used by the government.<\/p>\n
\"We don't want a TNI chief who interferes in political or
\nbusiness issues. We want someone who cares about the welfare and
\nprofessionalism of soldiers as defenders of the country,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Effendy claimed that Ryamizard was still a favorite candidate,
\nadding that the House had been prepared to endorse his nomination
\nby Megawati.<\/p>\n
However, President Susilo's withdrawal of his nomination has
\nleft a big question mark and may lead the process in a different
\ndirection.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-pressures-government-on-new-tni-commander-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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