Wiranto lashes out at critical officer<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minutes after he was formally suspended from his
\ncabinet post Gen. Wiranto lashed out at Maj. Gen. Agus
\nWirahadikusumah for his persistent public attacks against him and
\ntold the Wirabuana Military Commander to mind his own business.<\/p>\n
When asked by journalists about comments from Agus, Wiranto
\nsaid such affairs were not Agus' concern.<\/p>\n
\"As a regional military commander I don't believe he should
\ndirectly involve himself in national politics. Why doesn't he
\njust take care of his command,\" Wiranto charged.<\/p>\n
\"He has enough issues in his military command to give him a
\nheadache.\"<\/p>\n
Agus has been in the media spotlight in recent months for
\ncontroversial statements which have often gone contrary to the
\nregular TNI line.<\/p>\n
Last month when it was first rumored Wiranto might be
\nreplaced, Agus blatantly belittled Wiranto's military influence
\nby saying President Abdurrahman Wahid should not fear Wiranto as
\nthe latter no longer held paramount influence within TNI.<\/p>\n
On Sunday Agus said \"with all due respect, as his junior, I
\nwish Wiranto would resign.\" He added that any political ambitions
\nWiranto harbored should be pursued by joining the Golkar Party.<\/p>\n
On Monday Agus refused to respond to Wiranto's critique,
\nsaying \"his comments against me were superfluous and did not
\ntackle the core issue.<\/p>\n
Stopping short of calling it insubordination, Wiranto on
\nMonday decried the vicious attack from his junior.<\/p>\n
\"I am still an active four-star general. But there is this
\nactive two-star general who always criticizes, censures and
\npublicly give his opinion of me,\" Wiranto remarked.<\/p>\n
\"I believe that as an officer it (his actions) has veered from
\nan ethical point.\"<\/p>\n
Wiranto described Agus' remarks as a failure of the Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) in grooming up-and-coming officers.<\/p>\n
\"I, of course, also feel sad and guilty as I was also
\nresponsible in helping groom my officers,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The former military chief then called on top military brass to
\ntake stern action in ensuring that its officers do not step
\nbeyond the boundaries of responsibility given to them.<\/p>\n
\"I think TNI should be assertive in developing, arranging and
\ndefining the job descriptions of its officers,\" he added.<\/p>\n
\"I'm not talking about betrayal...(But) In a military
\norganization unity, loyalty and allegiance are foundational
\nprinciples which must be upheld.\"<\/p>\n
Wiranto also questioned Agus' own consistency, who, he claims,
\ncontinuously advocates the retrenchment of the military from
\npolitics while he himself delves into political matters.<\/p>\n
\"In my view his own assertions, lately, have delved more into
\npolitics than security and defense matters.\" (27)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/wiranto-lashes-out-at-critical-officer-1447893297",
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