TNI replaces Aceh commander<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI) unexpectedly announced the
\nreplacement of the Aceh provincial military commander Maj. Gen.
\nDjali Yusuf, a few days before the May 12 deadline of the
\ngovernment's ultimatum to the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and
\npossible commencement of a military operation to quell the
\nseparatists.<\/p>\n
Djali, a native of Pidie, Aceh, will relinquish the post he
\nhas held since March 2002 to his immediate subordinate, Brig.
\nGen. Endang Suwarya.<\/p>\n
Disclosing the reason behind the replacement, TNI Chief Gen.
\nEndriartono Sutarto said Djali would soon reach retirement age.
\nThe retirement age of TNI officers ranked brigadier general and
\nabove is set at 55.<\/p>\n
\"We won't retain him, because his impending retirement will
\ndisrupt the continuity of the planned military operation in
\nAceh,\" Endriartono said after a Cabinet meeting.<\/p>\n
Djali, a 1972 graduate of the Military Academy, is the first
\ncommander of the Aceh military command, which was reinstated last
\nyear due to increasing violence.<\/p>\n
His successor Endang is a 1973 graduate and a classmate of
\nCoordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono. Endang is also a former Teuku Umar Military
\nresort commander, and was stationed in Banda Aceh before being
\nappointed deputy operational assistant to the Army Chief of Staff
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
Endriartono, who had his retirement age extended by the
\nPresident last year, dismissed speculations that the change of
\nguard in the Aceh military replacement involved political
\ninterests.<\/p>\n
\"We TNI are always well-prepared for any policies regarding
\nour duties in Aceh, including replacing our commanders,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Ratyono, the official
\ntransfer of duty from Djali to Endang would be made on Tuesday
\nnext week.<\/p>\n
Many had believed that, as Djali is Acehnese, he would be
\nentrusted to lead the military-police joint operation.<\/p>\n
Djali was previously involved in a series of military
\noperations in the province and once served as deputy chief of
\nsecurity operations in Aceh in 2001, the first deployment of
\ntroops in the province since the fall of Soeharto's New Order
\nregime in 1998.<\/p>\n
The government is expected to declare the commencement of the
\noperation, if GAM fails to accept the special autonomy and lay
\ndown its arms before May 12 -- a condition for the continuation
\nof peace talks.<\/p>\n
The military plans to enter Aceh on May 15 to restore order,
\nan operation that may last six months.<\/p>\n
Currently, 4,000 reinforcement troops have already been sent
\nto the resource-rich province, including 2,000 officers from the
\njoint military-police quick reaction strike force (PPRC).<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tni-replaces-aceh-commander-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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