Army chief denies new TNI reshuffle

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)