Air Force and Navy to have new chiefs

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Military (TNI) headquarters is expected to announce a major reshuffle, which includes the replacement of Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Indroko Sastrowiryono and Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal Hanafie Asnan.

Sources in the TNI told The Jakarta Post that TNI Academy Commander Vice Air Marshal Cheppy Hakim would take over from Hanafie while TNI Inspector General Vice Adm. Bernard Kent would succeed Indroko.

Both Hanafie and Indroko are expected to retire.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri is scheduled to install the new chiefs of staff at the State Palace on Thursday.

The sources said there would be a reshuffle in the Army, but its chief, Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, would keep his post, probably until Megawati names him the new TNI chief in place of Adm. Widodo A.S.

The rotation in the Army includes the appointment of the operational assistant to Army chief, Maj. Gen. Harry Kosasih, as the new deputy Army chief replacing Lt. Gen. Kiki Syahnakrie, who will retire.

"Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago has been groomed to take the Army's top post," one of the sources said, referring to the TNI chief of general affairs.

He added that Endriartono, whose service has been extended to five years, remained the strongest candidate for the TNI's top post.

The reshuffle also looks set to affect Jakarta Military commander Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo, who will be promoted to lieutenant general. His new post remains undisclosed, but there were reports he would be appointed as the new Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) chief which is currently filled by Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu.