Ministers told to quit military<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives' Commission I on
\nDefense, Security, Information and Foreign and Legal affairs
\nurged President Abdurrahman Wahid on Tuesday to order four
\nministers to give up their military careers.<\/p>\n
\"We want President Abdurrahman to confirm the retirement of
\nthe Cabinet ministers from the military this week,\" the
\ncommission's chairman Yasril Ananta Burhanuddin said in a year-
\nend statement to the House.<\/p>\n
The four ministers are Coordinating Minister for Political
\nAffairs and Security Gen. Wiranto, Minister of Mines and Energy
\nLt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Minister of Transportation Lt.
\nGen. Agum Gumelar and State Minister of Administrative Reforms
\nVice Admiral Freddy Numberi.<\/p>\n
Yasril said the statement followed a proposal by Army Chief of
\nStaff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto to Abdurrahman that Army top brass
\nshould retire. Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Admiral Widodo
\nAdisucipto has approved the proposal.<\/p>\n
\"So the President has just to sign the proposal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The commission also called on the ministers to voluntarily ask
\nthe President for early retirement.<\/p>\n
\"They should choose whether they want to work as Cabinet
\nministers or return to military headquarters,\" Yasril said.<\/p>\n
He said the minister's retirement from military services was
\nin-line with the TNI's internal reform, which requires a
\nserviceman who assumes a civilian job to withdraw from the force.
\nThe policy was introduced by Wiranto, then TNI's commander,
\nearlier this year.<\/p>\n
A number of active military officers choose to retire after
\nbeing elected governors or regents. They include the governors of
\nJakarta (Sutiyoso), Central Java (Mardiyanto) and East Java (Imam
\nUtomo).<\/p>\n
Wiranto is still three years away from the retirement age of
\n55. Bambang, once dubbed a rising star, is 50, Freddy is 53 while
\nAgum turned 54 earlier this month. (jun)<\/p>",
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