Susilo promises to submit name for top TNI post soon<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
After months of uncertainty over leadership succession within
\nthe Indonesian Military (TNI), President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
\nhas indicated the wait could soon be over.<\/p>\n
He said on Friday that he would soon submit a candidate for
\nthe top post at the TNI to the House of Representatives for
\napproval.<\/p>\n
Susilo is expected to make the move to replace TNI Commander
\nin Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, who is now at retiring age,
\nafter the House ends its recess session in mid-January.<\/p>\n
\"I have told the House that I will submit one candidate for
\nTNI commander to the House for approval in the next assembly
\nsession. Based on the law, the House is only authorized to
\napprove (the President's candidate) not to select,\" said Susilo
\nat a joint press conference with House speaker Agung Laksono.<\/p>\n
Susilo met Agung in an informal meeting at the Presidential
\nPalace to discuss several issues including the succession process
\nin the military.<\/p>\n
\"President Susilo has replied to our letter seeking
\nclarification over the TNI commander's successor. Susilo agreed
\nto immediately submit a name for approval after the recess
\nsession of the legislators on Jan. 12,\" said Agung.<\/p>\n
The government has several times delayed replacing
\nEndriartono, despite repeated calls from the House to speed up
\nthe process.<\/p>\n
Susilo said the decision to maintain Endriartono in the top
\nTNI post at least until the end of 2005 was because he was still
\nconsidered the right man to handle the gradual withdrawal of
\nreinforcement soldiers from Aceh as part of a peace deal between
\nthe government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).<\/p>\n
The decommissioning of GAM weapons and the pullout of military
\ntroops from Aceh are expected to be concluded on Dec. 31.<\/p>\n
\"Endriartono's strength and mind are still necessary for the
\nsettlement of the Aceh conflict in a comprehensive, fair,
\npeaceful and honorable manner. That is why we have decided to
\nmaintain him for a while,\" said Susilo.<\/p>\n
Endriartono, 58 , has been in the military's top post since
\nNovember 2003. He tendered his resignation in October last year,
\nciting the TNI's regeneration process as his reason.<\/p>\n
Susilo refused to hint at the name of the candidate. He only
\nsaid the candidate would be chosen from the current four senior
\nmilitary officers.<\/p>\n
Currently, the eligible candidates to replace Endriartono are
\nformer Army chief of staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacuddu, Army Chief of
\nStaff Gen. Djoko Santoso, Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Slamet
\nSubiyanto and Air Force Chief of Staff Marshall Djoko Suyanto.<\/p>\n
Sources close to Susilo, however, said the strongest candidate
\nto replace Endriartono was Marshall Suyanto, as based on the TNI
\nlaw, the position of TNI chief should be held in turn by the
\nArmy, the Navy and the Air Force.<\/p>\n
So far only candidates from the Army and the Navy have enjoyed
\nthe top TNI post, while an Air Force figure has never led the
\nTNI.<\/p>\n
Another reason for appointing Suyanto is that Susilo wanted
\nthe ongoing reform program within the Army to be carried out by
\nSantoso, who is expected to reduce the influence of Ryamizard in
\ntrying to maintain status quo in the military and halt the reform
\nagenda.<\/p>\n
Days before leaving the presidential office, then president
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri proposed to the House that Ryamizard be
\napproved as Endriartono's successor. However, Susilo withdrew
\nMegawati's letter to the legislature, retaining Endriartono as
\nthe TNI chief.<\/p>",
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