Army chief denies new TNI reshuffle
JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto dismissed on Thursday speculation that there would soon be a major reshuffle in the Indonesian Military (TNI).
"There is a standard mechanism that is followed if there is a planned reshuffle in the TNI's top posts.
"First, the President must propose the candidates to the House of Representatives in order to secure their approval," Endriartono told The Jakarta Post by phone.
"To date, the TNI has yet to submit the names of any candidates to the President," he added.
Endriartono was commenting on widespread rumors that TNI chief Adm. Widodo AS would soon be replaced by the chief of the TNI's Strategic Intelligence Body (Bais) Vice Marshall Ian Santoso Perdanakusuma.
Reports have it that Ian, a 1971 Air Force Academy (AAU) graduate, had been selected as an alternative candidate for TNI chief after incumbent Air Force chief Marshall Hanafie Asnan turned down the posting due to ill health.
Hanafie, a 1969 Air Force Academy graduate, reportedly also rejected the offer as he was already past the mandatory retirement age of 55 years of age.
Rumors also have it that the current TNI Chief of Territorial Affairs Lt. Gen. Agus Widjojo has been selected to replace Endriartono as the Army chief.
The nomination of Agus, a 1970 Armed Forces Academy (Akabri) graduate, to replace Endriartono was made after the two front- runners -- incumbent Army Assistant Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Kiki Syahnakrie and incumbent Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) chief Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu -- reportedly rejected the post on the grounds that they still had work to do in respectively straightening out the Army and Kostrad.
Endriartono, however, dismissed the speculation that he would be replaced and be assigned to a staff posting at TNI headquarters.
Rumors were also rife that President Abdurrahman Wahid has already issued a decree on Endriartono's replacement.
"It (the planned reshuffle) is all rumors. Army headquarters hasn't held any further meetings on a command reshuffle since our last reshuffle in February," Endriartono said, while citing that it was within the President's prerogative to replace the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
"But to date, Gus Dur has yet to summon me to specifically discuss my replacement. Neither have I been informed about whether I will be transferred," the four-star general said.
Separately, deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) from the TNI/National Police faction Lt. Gen. Hari Sabarno said any reshuffle in the TNI's top posts must secure the approval of the House.
"Based on the MPR decree, the President must obtain the House's approval before he can replace the TNI chief and the National Police chief.
"If it is planned to replace the TNI chief, there are certain requirements that a candidate must fulfill.
"He (the candidate) must be a professional soldier, have an excellent educational background and a clear track record, and have experience serving with the Special Force," Hari said as quoted by Antara, while claiming that the post of TNI chief did not always have to be rotated among officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Hari said the frequent reshuffles in the TNI's top ranks would affect the military's solidity and professionalism.
"If we frequently replace our maids, we'll never be satisfied with their work," he said, while pointing out that Endriartono had only been in office for less than five months while Endriartono's predecessor, Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, only lasted in the post for less than a year. (02)