ABRI announces more leadership changes

ABRI announces more leadership changes

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces announced two more personnel
changes in its leadership structure yesterday, in the posts of
assistant to the chief of sociopolitical affairs and the
commandant of the Infantry Weapons Center.

The current assistant to the chief of sociopolitical affairs,
Maj. Gen. Suwarno Adiwijoyo, will be replaced by his deputy,
Brig. Gen. Budi Harsono. The commandant of the Bandung-based
Infantry Weapons Center, Maj. Gen. Rudi Mokoginta will be
replaced also by his deputy Brig. Gen. Luhut Panjaitan, Antara
reported yesterday.

ABRI chief spokesman Brig. Gen. Amir Syarifudin told the news
agency that the two men replaced will be reassigned to the ABRI
headquarters in order to prepare for their retirement.

The mandatory retirement age for senior military officers is
55.

Age was the reason behind the changes, Amir said. "It's normal
because their time has come. There is no political reason behind
the decision," he added.

The changes were ordered by ABRI Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung in
a letter dated Sept. 15, and the transfers of duty will take
place next week. The two brigadier generals are expected to be
promoted before they move to their new posts.

Luhut's current position will be filled by Col. Sudiyono P,
the center's director for guidance and physical training. Antara
did not say who will takeover Budi's current position.

Budi will become the new assistant to Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid,
who holds a vital position in the military as the country
prepares for next year's general election.

Syarwan has been active in popularizing ABRI's positions on
various political issues in recent months.

Budi, 50 years old and hailing from Yogyakarta, is a 1967
graduate of the Military Academy.

He has had two stints in military operations in East Timor,
and has served in the Diponegoro regional command in Central Java
and the Siliwangi command in West Java.

Luhut, 49 years and hailing from North Sumatra, is a 1970
graduate of the Military Academy. He spent most of his early
years in the Army in the elite Special Forces (Kopassus), before
he moved to Weaponry Center in Bandung, first as commandant of
the Infantry Education Center. (emb)