All three chiefs of staff back Widodo A.S. as TNI Commander

JAKARTA (JP): Air Force chief Marshall Hanafie Asnan said on Saturday that all three chiefs of staff had agreed to support Adm. Widodo A.S. as the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander, in order to maintain unity in the TNI.

"As long as the commitment among the three chiefs of staff is positive, why shouldn't we support it? I guess such a commitment is reasonable," Hanafie told reporters on the sidelines of a ceremony to open a new warehouse belonging to the Indonesian Aerosport Federation (FASI) along with the Indonesian Air Force, at Halim Perdanakusuma air base in East Jakarta.

Hanafie added, "to appoint the TNI chief is the President's prerogative, which has its own procedures."

Hanafie's announcement has highlighted the differences between the military's top leaders and President Megawati Soekarnoputri on the future leadership of the TNI.

Although Megawati has yet to reveal her choice, senior leaders of her party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), have openly shown their preference for Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago, the incumbent Military General Affairs chief of staff.

Widodo was the choice of Megawati's predecessor, Abdurrahman Wahid, who broke with the tradition of giving the military's top job to an Army general.

Earlier, the Army's spokesman, Brig. Gen. Ismet Herdy, had said that three of the chiefs of staff had agreed to support Widodo as the TNI chief, despite the fact that a new individual was meant to be appointed as his successor.

"The three chiefs of staff have decided that the TNI must maintain its current unity, and Pak Widodo is the right man in the right place to do so," Ismet said.

However, widespread rumors suggest that the TNI has already nominated four generals to President Megawati as candidates for the position of the new TNI chief. The President was reportedly expected to carry out the replacement of the TNI chief, as well as that of the National Police chief, after the People's Consultative Assembly Annual Session, which ended on Nov. 9.

Apart from Hanafie, the other four-star generals are incumbent Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto and former Army chief of staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto. The other candidate is a three-star general, Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago.

Djamari reportedly has the strongest support, as the House of Representatives supported Mega's decision to appoint "a younger chief to lead the military".

Widodo, a 1968 graduate of the Navy Academy, reached retirement age two years ago but his term was extended for another five years pending the appointment of a new TNI chief.

Like Widodo, Hanafie, a 1969 graduate of the Air Force Academy, reached retirement age last November but former president Abdurrahman Wahid extended his term of office. At the time, Abdurrahman was planning to appoint Hanafie as TNI commander, replacing Widodo. No explanation has been given as to why the plan was canceled.

Meanwhile, Tyasno, a 1970 graduate and Endriartono, a 1971 graduate, both of the Armed Forces Academy, will reach retirement age next year. Djamari, on the other hand, is due to retire in 2003.