SBY to have final say on TNI chief<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The saga over the replacement of the Indonesian Military (TNI)
\nchief is apparently nearing its concluding stages, as a plenary
\nmeeting of the House of Representatives has agreed to give the
\nfinal say on the issue to the President.<\/p>\n
The plenary meeting, attended by all House factions, agreed
\nthat the recommendation -- which was drawn up by Commission I on
\ndefense -- be submitted to the House's Consultative Body for
\nfinalization.<\/p>\n
\"Because the House failed to give its endorsement within the
\ngiven time, we recommended that the House give the President the
\nauthority to name the new TNI chief from the available
\ncandidates,\" Commission I chairman Theo L. Sambuaga told the
\nplenary meeting.<\/p>\n
The recommendation, however, would have to be deliberated
\nfurther at the House's consultative body for follow-up.<\/p>\n
The consultative body would then decide if the recommendation
\nshould be relayed to the President for implementation. However,
\nif the consultative body opted to bring the recommendation to
\nanother plenary meeting, it would very likely win approval after
\na vote.<\/p>\n
Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, who had been named by
\nformer president Megawati Soekarnoputri to replace TNI chief Gen.
\nEndriartono Sutarto, who resigned from his post, failed to turn
\nup at a selection hearing because of a restraint order from the
\nPresident.<\/p>\n
The law regulating the TNI stipulates that the appointment and
\nremoval of the TNI chief requires the approval of the House.<\/p>\n
The House's decision was reached, however, without the
\nscuffles that have become a regular feature of the legislature.<\/p>\n
Members of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic
\nParty faction at first did not want the plenary meeting to
\ndiscuss the recommendation produced by Commission I, saying that
\nthey were never asked to participate in its deliberation.<\/p>\n
Members of Nationhood Coalition responded by saying that all
\nfactions had taken part in the deliberation. \"The House
\nsecretariat general always invites all members to all meetings,
\nso it's up to them if they choose not to show up,\" Permadi of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said.<\/p>\n
The squabble brought the plenary meeting to a halt but resumed
\nan hour later.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sby-to-have-final-say-on-tni-chief-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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