Prabowo promoted to command Kopassus<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief Gen. Hartono announced yesterday that
\nBrig. Gen. Prabowo Subianto would become the commanding officer
\nof the newly-restructured army special forces, Kopassus. Prabowo
\nwould also be promoted to major general.<\/p>\n
\"The decree on Prabowo's promotion...has been signed and he
\nwill officially become the permanent chief of Kopassus,\" Hartono
\nsaid after seven other high-ranking army officers reported for
\ntheir promotions. He said the ceremony to promote Prabowo would
\nbe held later this month.<\/p>\n
In June the elite forces were restructured; from three groups
\nto five. There was speculation over who would lead the elite
\nforces as the favored Prabowo had not been promoted to major
\ngeneral; a rank required by the position.<\/p>\n
Prabowo has attracted great attention not only because he is
\nPresident Soeharto's son-in-law but because he is viewed as a
\nfast rising star in the military.<\/p>\n
Prabowo, a son of economic guru Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, is
\nmarried to Soeharto's second daughter, Siti Hediati Hariadi. He
\nis the first of the Military Academy's 1974 graduates to have
\nreached a two-star rank.<\/p>\n
Hartono had earlier hinted of Prabowo's impending promotion
\nfollowing the latter's success in leading the military operation
\nto release a group of Indonesians and foreigners held hostage by
\na separatist group in Irian Jaya in May.<\/p>\n
Prabowo is considered to have succeeded in quelling the
\nFretilin separatist group in East Timor.<\/p>\n
Brig. Gen. Johny Lumintang, Brig. Gen. Agum Gumelar and Brig.
\nGen. Bambang Yudhoyono were promoted to major general. They will
\nbe sworn in as the chiefs of the Trikora, Wirabuana and Sriwijaya
\nregional military commands in Irian Jaya, Sulawesi and South
\nSumatra respectively.<\/p>\n
The four other officers were promoted from colonel to
\nbrigadier general. They were Jusuf Jawas, Sudi Silalahi, Suadi
\nAtma and Jaya Suparman.<\/p>\n
Jusuf and Silalahi will also be appointed expert staff members
\nto Armed Forces Commander Suadi Atma to replace Yudhoyono as
\nchief of staff at the Jakarta military command. Jaya will become
\nthe chief of staff at Wirabuana military command.<\/p>\n
Soeyono<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Soeyono, who was recently replaced as ABRI
\nChief of General Affairs, denied yesterday the speculation that
\nhe was dismissed because he had failed to anticipate the major
\nriots in Jakarta two weeks ago.<\/p>\n
\"Reshuffles are always conducted based on wise consideration
\nand the actual needs of the military,\" he said after bidding
\nfarewell to his staff at the Armed Forces (ABRI) Headquarters in
\nCilangkap, East Jakarta, yesterday.<\/p>\n
Soeyono was replaced by Lt. Gen. Tarub. He was formerly the
\nchief of the Army Strategic Reserve Command. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prabowo-promoted-to-command-kopassus-1447893297",
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