The House wants Megawati to name new military chief<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives (DPR) urged President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri on Friday to immediately name a new military chief
\nfor the sake of regeneration within the institution.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim Ambong, chairman of House of Representatives
\nCommission I on political, security and foreign affairs, said
\nthat Megawati's reluctance to replace the current military
\nchiefs, including the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Adm.
\nWidodo AS, might affect the institution severely \"as many
\npotential younger generals failed to hold strategic positions.\"<\/p>\n
\"Megawati must bear in mind that if she continues to delay
\nproposing names for the new TNI chief, she hampers regeneration
\nwithin the institution as some military chiefs have long passed
\ntheir retirement age, while younger generals like (former Army
\nChief of Staff) Gen. Tyasno (Sudarto) has to await for a better
\nposition,\" said Ibrahim, a legislator from the Golkar Party.<\/p>\n
As the TNI Council for Promotion and Rank (Wanjakti) started
\nits session early this week, speculation has rife that the
\nmilitary would reshuffle its high-ranking officers, to include
\nthe replacement of Widodo.<\/p>\n
Four names have been floated as possible candidates to replace
\nWidodo. Besides Tyasno, other strong candidates are Air Force
\nchief Marshall Hanafie Asnan, Army Chief of Staff Gen.
\nEndriartono Sutarto, and the Navy Chief Adm. Indroko
\nSastrowiryono.<\/p>\n
By law, the president must appoint one of the three chiefs of
\nstaff or former chiefs of staff and must secure the approval of
\nthe House in replacing and appointing the TNI chief.<\/p>\n
In November last year, Megawati reportedly informed the House
\nthat she planned to replace Widodo as TNI chief. At the time,
\nrumors were rife that Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago, the TNI chief of
\ngeneral affairs, appeared to have strong support from Megawati
\nand her own Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan), which considered that the military needed to be led
\nby a younger officer.<\/p>\n
The speculation, however, ended following \"a commitment\" of
\nthe three services to support Widodo's leadership for the sake of
\nTNI's unity.<\/p>\n
A source at the Ministry of Defense told The Jakarta Post on
\nFriday that Megawati had to consider the incumbent three chiefs
\nof staff, as well as Tyasno, to replace Widodo to avoid
\ncontroversy over the reshuffle.<\/p>\n
\"If Megawati insists on appointing Djamari as TNI chief, she
\nmust replace Endriartono first to pave the way for him (Djamari)
\nfor the position,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-house-wants-megawati-to-name-new-military-chief-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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