Appointment of ABRI members to City Hall to go ahead

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)