ABRI reshuffles chiefs of strategic commands

ABRI reshuffles chiefs of strategic commands

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) yesterday announced a
major reshuffle in some of its main commands, including the Army
Strategic Reserves (Kostrad), the Army's Special Forces
(Kopassus) and the military command in East Timor.

Maj. Gen. Tarub, currently chief of the Trikora Command, has
been reassigned as Kostrad commandant to replace the retiring
Maj. Gen. Kuntara, according to the Antara news agency quoting a
statement from ABRI's Information Center.

Brig. Gen. Subagyo H.S., currently chief of the Army's
Security and Code division, was named commandant of Kopassus, the
Army's elite force, in place of Brig. Gen. Agum Gumelar.

Gumelar has been reassigned as chief of staff for the Bukit
Barisan Military Command which oversees northern Sumatra.

Col. Johny Lumintang, the current chief of the Wira Dharma
military regiment in East Timor, will be reassigned as commandant
of Kostrad's First Infantry Division. The ABRI statement did not
say who will fill the position in East Timor.

Altogether, 84 officers in ABRI's three services and the
National Police were reassigned in the reshuffle ordered by ABRI
Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung in a letter dated Aug. 3, according to
Antara. The reshuffle affects 27 officers in the Army, 29 in the
Navy, seven in the Air Force and 21 in the National Police.

Other major changes include the following:

Maj. Gen. Pranowo, currently chief of the Bukit Barisan
Military Command in northern Sumatra, has been promoted as
assistant to the chief of ABRI's Social Political Affairs. His
position will be filled by Brig. Gen. Arie J. Kumaat, currently
deputy chief of ABRI's Intelligence Agency (BIA).

Maj. Gen. Syamsir Siregar has been appointed chief of BIA and
assistant for intelligence affairs to ABRI's Chief of General
Affairs, replacing Maj. Gen. Arie Sudewo.

Maj. Gen. Yunus Yosfiah, currently chief of Infantry Weaponry,
has been named chief of the Sriwijaya Command which overseas
southern Sumatra.

There are two major new appointments in the police force.

Brig. Gen. Harimas has been appointed chief of Central Java
Police and Brig. Gen. Hartoyo as chief of Nusa Tenggara Police,
whose jurisdiction includes Bali, Nusa Tenggara and East Timor.
(emb)