JP\/4\/TNI<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
The appointment of Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad)
\nchief Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu as the new Army chief has
\nwrapped up a key reshuffle in the Indonesian Military (TNI).<\/p>\n
But while Ryamizard will fully take up his new job on
\nThursday, his predecessor, Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, will have to
\nwait until he receives the command baton from outgoing TNI chief
\nAdm. Widodo A.S.<\/p>\n
TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said, after
\nannouncing the latest reshuffle on Monday, that Widodo would
\nissue a decree that will withdraw Endriartono to the TNI
\nHeadquarters as senior officer without portfolio, pending his
\ninauguration by President Megawati Soekarnoputri as the new TNI
\ncommander.<\/p>\n
Megawati is scheduled to install Ryamizard on Tuesday, while
\nthe transfer of duty from Endriartono to Ryamizard will take
\nplace at a ceremony at the Senayan parking lot on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The reason for this unusual practice remained a mystery as of
\nMonday evening when TNI's high-ranking promotions and duty
\nrotation board (Wanjakti) completed its meeting to select
\nofficers who will replace Ryamizard as Kostrad chief and fill the
\ndeputy Army chief post, which had been held by Endriartono since
\nthe retirement of Lt. Kiki Syahnakrie in April.<\/p>\n
Sjafrie brushed aside speculation of political maneuvering in
\nthe appointment of Ryamizard, saying that "the decision was
\nmerely made for the sake of the organization and personnel
\nreasons."<\/p>\n
While approving Ryamizard's appointment as the new Army chief,
\nMegawati acknowledged Endriartono's performance.<\/p>\n
"The President expressed her grateful thanks to Gen.
\nEndriartono for his dedication to the nation during his term of
\nservice as the Army chief," Sjafrie said.<\/p>\n
Neither Endriartono nor Ryamizard, who met at the Army
\nHeadquarters when the latest reshuffle was announced, would
\ncomment on the matter.<\/p>\n
Military analyst Ikrar Nusa Bakti of the National Institute of
\nSciences (LIPI) questioned the rare practice, in view of the fact
\nthat Endriartono was the sole candidate for the TNI chief post
\nforwarded by Megawati to the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
"In the military tradition, the transfer of duty always moves
\nfrom the higher level to the lower. It's quite difficult for me
\nto understand why Megawati did not install Endriartono as TNI
\nchief before installing Ryamizard," Ikrar told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He said Endriartono, who had his term of office extended by
\nanother five years, ought automatically to retire if he no longer
\nheld any strategic post.<\/p>\n
"Of course, becoming a senior army officer without portfolio
\nis very unexpected for Endriartono," Ikrar said.<\/p>\n
But Ikrar was doubtful if Megawati would back down on her own
\ndecision to name Endriartono the TNI chief, saying it would only
\ndamage her reputation.<\/p>\n
Sjafrie said Megawati had approved Ryamizard's promotion on
\nSaturday night.<\/p>\n
Ryamizard, a 1974 Military Academy graduate, is the youngest
\nof the TNI top brass. Both fellow chiefs of staff, Vice Marshal
\nChappy Hakim, who leads the Air Force, and Vice Adm. Bernard Kent
\nSondakh of the Navy, are nearing the mandatory retirement age of
\n55.<\/p>\n
Born in Palembang, South Sumatra, 52 years ago, Ryamizard is a
\nson of a loyalist of Sukarno, the founding president and
\nMegawati's father. Ryamizard is married to a daughter of former
\nvice president Try Sutrisno.<\/p>\n
Ryamizard is known as one of the TNI generals who has strongly
\ncampaigned against separatist movements in Aceh and Papua.<\/p>\n
His appointment to the Army's top post has buried the hopes of
\nhis senior, Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago, TNI chief of general
\naffairs, who received support from several legislators, including
\nsome former Army officers of Megawati's Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle and high-ranking army officers.<\/p>\n
According to Sjafrie, beside selecting the new Kostrad chief,
\nWanjakti would also select the Army deputy chief to replace Kiki
\nSyahnakrie.<\/p>\n
Sjafrie, however, refused to reveal how many candidates had
\nbeen nominated to fill the Kostrad chief and Army deputy chief
\nposts.<\/p>\n
Speculation has been rife over the past few days that the
\nJakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo, a 1972
\nMilitary Academy graduate, will take over from Ryamizard as the
\nKostrad chief and hand over his current post to the Makassar,
\nSouth Sulawesi-based Wirabuana Military Commander Maj. Gen. M.
\nYahya.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, former Army's Special Force (Kopassus) Lt. Gen.
\nSyahrir MS, a 1971 graduate, and the incumbent operational
\nassistant to the Army chief Maj. Gen. Hary Kosasih, a 1972
\ngraduate, have been touted as strong candidates for the Army
\ndeputy chief position.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp4tni-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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