Susilo delays naming new military commander<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The powerful Indonesia Military (TNI) will not get a new chief in
\nthe near future as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono needs more
\ntime to choose one of the four candidates, a senior presidential
\naide says.<\/p>\n
Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi said Susilo would only appoint
\nthe next TNI commander after assessing the performance of the
\nthree new military chiefs of staff, who were sworn in by the
\nPresident earlier on Friday.<\/p>\n
They were Lt. Gen. Djoko Santoso, who was installed as the new
\nArmy chief of staff; Vice Adm. Slamet Soebijanto, the Navy chief;
\nand new Air Force head Vice Marshal Djoko Soeyanto.<\/p>\n
One of these men is tipped to take over the TNI leadership
\nfrom Gen. Endriartono Sutarto who has tendered his resignation.<\/p>\n
Another possible candidate is Santoso's predecessor, Gen.
\nRyamizard Ryacudu, who is close to former president Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri. Santoso, meanwhile, is a known Susilo ally.<\/p>\n
"The three (Santoso, Slamet and Soeyanto) have yet to show how
\nthey perform as new chiefs of staff. It will take time to
\ndetermine which of the four candidates is the most eligible,"
\nSudi said after the inauguration ceremony at the Presidential
\nPalace in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Under the TNI's internal regulations, a new chief of staff can
\nonly be promoted after at least three months in office.<\/p>\n
Sudi said the appointment of the next military commander would
\nbe made in accordance with prevailing regulations.<\/p>\n
One convention rarely adhered to in recent years suggests that
\nthe military chiefs of staff should take turns leading the TNI.
\nIf Susilo followed this rule, it would mean Soeyanto would later
\nbe appointed for the top post because it has already been held by
\nthe heads of the Army and Navy.<\/p>\n
However, when asked if the President would name a new TNI
\ncommander from the Air Force, Sudi was giving nothing away: "It
\nis possible. We'll (make our appointment) within the legal
\nchannels," he said.<\/p>\n
Santoso, who some observers see as the strongest candidate to
\nreplace Endriartono Sutarto, refused to comment on his
\nnomination, saying for the meantime he would concentrate on
\nimproving the Army's professionalism.<\/p>\n
"I plan to focus on the development of human resources in the
\nArmy," he said after being sworn in. Santoso added he hoped to
\ncreate a "solid" institution that was "loved by the people".<\/p>\n
Separately, his predecessor, Ryamizard said he had not yet
\nthought about taking the top post.<\/p>\n
"It's up to my superiors. I have not retired yet. Pak Tarto
\n(Endriartono), who is 60, has yet to retire either. Don't ask me
\nwhat I will do after this. I don't know," he said.<\/p>\n
Ryamizard, 55, expressed his pleasure over the promotion of
\nSusanto, his former deputy in the Army, whom he said he had
\ngroomed for the role.<\/p>\n
"I am glad that he was appointed. Don't you say that I don't
\nlike it" Ryamizard, who is now a senior official in TNI
\nheadquarters, said jokingly.<\/p>\n
Endriartono, who handed in his resignation for the second time
\non Feb. 7, stressed that the turnover in leadership was necessary
\nand mandatory.<\/p>\n
After his first resignation last year, outgoing president
\nMegawati proposed that the House of Representatives approve
\nRyamizard as the new TNI commander.<\/p>\n
Susilo, however, scrapped the nomination and retained
\nEndriartono, despite the House pressuring him to immediately name
\na new military chief.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/susilo-delays-naming-new-military-commander-1447893297",
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