Agus, Ryamizard deny political motives behind reshuffle

Agus, Ryamizard deny political motives behind reshuffle

JAKARTA (JP): Outgoing Army Strategic Reserves (Kostrad)
commander Lt. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah and his successor Maj.
Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu have brushed aside political motives
behind their reshuffle.

Speaking after the Indonesian Military (TNI) announced his
removal, Agus said he was happy to relinquish the post he had
held for just four months.

"In the name of God, I'm not disappointed at all. I sincerely
accept the reshuffle," Agus said at Kostrad Headquarters in
Central Jakarta.

The fourth military reshuffle in the last 10 months saw the
current Jakarta Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Ryamizard
Ryacudu promoted to replace Agus, who has been reassigned to Army
Headquarters without a specific job, the most unwanted position
for high-flying officers with an eye on their careers.

"I was ready to become a nobody in the Army because for me,
rank and position means nothing. Everybody should understand that
Agus Wirahadikusumah has no ambitions," Agus said.

He said, however, he did not know the true reasons behind his
removal because Army Chief of Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, who
summoned him earlier on Monday, had not explained the decision to
him.

"I was only told that I had to prepare for a handing-over
ceremony on Tuesday. He also informed me about the process (of
the dismissal) in the TNI council for high-ranking promotions and
duty rotations (Wanjakti)," Agus recalled.

Feeling certain that his reshuffle was not politically
motivated, Agus assumed he was replaced due to a misunderstanding
after he publicly disclosed financial irregularities in one of
Kostrad's foundations.

Local media has reported that an audit of the Dharma Putra
foundation owned by Kostrad found Rp 190 billion (US$21 million)
unaccounted for during the three-months when Agus' predecessor
Lt. Gen. Djadja Suparman was at the helm.

Agus suspended two colonels who were in charge of financial
affairs while further investigations into their role in the
irregularities were carried out.

"There has been a misunderstanding. Some people assumed that I
had publicly disclosed the audit's result, but I never mentioned
any names or any amounts of money and I always called the
findings irregularities," Agus said.

He added that he suspected that some people had felt uneasy
about him ever since he was appointed to the Kostrad top post
four months ago.

Maj. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu said during a visit Kostrad
Headquarters on Monday that he also believed his promotion was
not political.

"If I was appointed because of political reasons I would
prefer to refuse. I am very proud to have got the promotion
because of my professionalism," Ryamizard said.

He also said he would continue with Agus' efforts to enhance
professionalism in Kostrad and to audit all the foundations
belonging to the force.

"Every step that Pak Agus made is in accordance with my
vision. And right now the audit on the foundations has been taken
over by the Army Inspectorate General and I will not hamper
efforts to disclose irregularities," Ryamizard added. (dja)