166 servicemen keep city posts

JAKARTA (JP): Of the 254 members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) currently holding civilian posts in the city administration, 166 of them have decided to stay at their civilian jobs, an official said on Wednesday.

Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi said the remaining 88 officers had decided to continue their careers in the military.

Kahfi explained that of the 166 officers, nine had long since retired from their military duties and had decided to remain in their civilian posts.

"I am one of those nine. The remaining 157 who are active military officers, have decided to join this group of nine," Kahfi said.

TNI Commander Gen. Wiranto has ordered all TNI personnel, including those posted in the city administration offices, to choose between their civilian and military posts.

Kahfi explained that of the 157 active military officers, 100 are in the process of changing their military status to the status of civil servant, while the remaining 57 officers will take early retirement from TNI to hold their civilian posts.

When asked about the recent recommendation made by the Jakarta Military Command on the return of 104 military officers holding civilian posts here to their military duties, Kahfi explained that there was a "mistake" on the part of the administration for not clarifying the matter further.

"We should have specified to reporters that the 104 were not only (military) officers holding civilian posts in Jakarta, but also in Bekasi and Tangerang. The administration should have clarified this matter," Kahfi said.(ylt)