Amir Syarifudin becomes ABRI's new spokesman

Amir Syarifudin becomes ABRI's new spokesman

JAKARTA (JP): Brig. Gen. Amir Syarifudin yesterday moved into
his new office in the Armed Forces (ABRI) headquarters in
Cilangkap, East Jakarta, as the military's top spokesman.

Amir, who has spent the last four years in the Trikora
Command, which oversees Maluku and Irian Jaya, replaced Maj. Gen.
Suwarno Adiwidjojo as chief of ABRI's Information Center.

Suwarno has been promoted to assistant to the ABRI Chief of
Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid.

Unlike his predecessor, who had some experience in dealing
with the media, Amir, 50, admitted that the job as an information
officer was new to him.

However, he left a good impression on reporters covering the
handover ceremony from Suwarno when he promised to make the
military more transparent to the public and to foster close
relations with the media.

He announced that it is his intention to make ABRI truly
belonging to the people and this meant explaining as clearly as
possible about military missions.

Amir called the media partners of ABRI and stressed that he
would make himself available to journalists all the time, even
outside working hours.

Amir whose previous job was Chief of Staff of the Trikora
Command, yesterday talked at length about the military's efforts
to secure the safe release of 12 people held hostage by rebels in
Irian Jaya since early January.

A 1968 graduate of the National Military Academy, Amir spent
nearly half of his military career as instructor at the Army's
various colleges and institutions. His territorial experience
includes commanding posts in East Kalimantan and in Maluku and
Irian Jaya.

Hailing from South Sulawesi, he is married with two children.
(rms)