TNI replaces six legislators<\/p>\n
Former Udayana military chief Maj. Gen. Williem T. Da Costa and
\nfive other senior military officers were sworn in as new
\nlegislators to replace six others who have reached mandatory
\nretirement age.<\/p>\n
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung, who presided over the swearing-
\nin ceremony, welcomed the five new legislators from the
\nIndonesian Military\/National Police faction, saying they were in
\nthe legislature to channel the people's aspirations for the
\nremaining one year of the present House's term.<\/p>\n
He called on the new legislators to help improve the House's
\nperformance as regards its legislative functions, saying the
\nHouse still had a large backlog of bills to get through.<\/p>\n
Besides Da Costa, the five other new faction members were
\nnamed as Maj. Gen. Rudjiono, Maj. Gen. Sang Nyoman Suwisma, Rear
\nAdmiral Jimmy Masykur, Rear Admiral Sugeng Waluyo Ronoharjo and
\nRear Marshal IG Bambang Risharyanto.<\/p>\n
The legislators they are replacing are Lt. Gen. Slamet
\nSupriyadi, Maj. Gen. Arifuddin AM, Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif,
\nRear Admiral J. Ferdinand Manengkei, Maj. Gen. Prayitno and Rear
\nMarshal Pieter L.D. Watimena.<\/p>\n
The mandatory retirement age in the military is 55.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI) leadership also appointed Posma
\nL. Tobing as the chairman of the Military\/National Police faction
\nin the House and as the deputy speaker of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR), two strategic positions left vacant
\nby the departure of Slamet Supriyadi.<\/p>\n
The military and police have 38 non-elected seats in the
\nlegislature but are due to loss their seats in the House in
\nSeptember 2004, and in the Assembly in 2009.<\/p>\n
The military's exit from the legislature is part of a
\nstumbling process of national reform to develop democracy that
\nhas been underway since the fall of former president Soeharto's
\nauthoritarian regime in May, 1998.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tni-replaces-six-legislators-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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