Air Force and Navy to have new chiefs

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.