Appointment of ABRI members to City Hall to go ahead

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso disclosed on Friday that he would reinstate three out of the four Armed Forces (ABRI) members as city high-ranking officials whose appointments were canceled last year.

Sutiyoso said that before being appointed, however, the three had to retire from ABRI first in line with Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto's recent ruling that any officers intending to hold civil posts had to quit the military.

Previously, active members were allowed to hold civil posts.

"I have asked the three whether they want to hold the posts or go back to Armed Forces headquarters, but no response has come yet. If they want to go back, I will appoint other employees," he said.

A City Hall source said on Friday that Sutiyoso was scheduled to inaugurate three active colonels next month. They are Santosa as the new head of the civilian defense unit's provincial headquarters, replacing Yani Mulyadi; Buyung Atang as head of the city land transportation agency, replacing J.P. Sepang, and Yani Mulyadi as head of the city parking agency, replacing Sumaryono.

Sutiyoso, himself an active Army lieutenant general, did actually appoint another ABRI member last November to head the city sanitation agency, now chaired by Col. Subasir. The appointment, however, was annulled and the incumbent would be replaced by a civilian, the source said.

The cancellation of the appointment of the four military officers was due to strong opposition from the public, who have demanded a gradual reduction in the number of military members in the People's Consultative Assembly.

"I decided to cancel the appointment of the four military members at that time after I had listened to all the input from the public. I hope this will satisfy them," Sutiyoso said.

Separately, assistant to the city secretary for administrative affairs Ma'mun Amin said that out of 356 officers holding civil posts in the city administration, 208, including Governor Sutiyoso, had chosen to relinquish their military duties.

"The decision by Gen. Wiranto makes it clear that any officer intending to hold a civil post has to quit the military," Ma'mun said.

"I guess the 208 officers here are devoted and want to continue in their civilian jobs."

On Wednesday Sutiyoso said that he was ready to relinquish his title of lieutenant general to enable him to be the governor of the capital until the year 2002.

"It has become a challenge for me to overcome this crisis with the people," Sutiyoso said.

Existing data showed that out of the 356 military officers assigned to the city administration, 113 have preferred to go back to the military and another 35 will follow suit. (ind/ylt)