Army chief rejects political appointees
Army chief rejects political appointees
JAKARTA (JP): Amid rumors of an impending military reshuffle,
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto warned President
Abdurrahman Wahid on Friday against replacing high-ranking
military officers to gain an advantage over his political foes.
"The President must consider the larger interests of the
people and the nation, rather than only temporarily interests,"
Endriartono said at Army Headquarters here.
He stressed that any changes in the leadership of the
Indonesian Military (TNI) must not be aimed at achieving the
political agenda of the President.
Endriartono's statement caps off a slew of public remarks by
top military officers this week, which have in effect rejected
the idea of the President issuing a decree dissolving the House
of Representatives and making key military appointments to
achieve that end.
There have been reports the President is considering declaring
a state of national emergency and, or, issuing a decree to
dissolve the House, which at the end of the month will convene to
determine whether a special session of the People's Consultative
Assembly should be called to consider impeachment proceedings
against the President.
Military officers have made clear their opposition to
dissolving the House, which has reportedly prompted the President
to consider replacing key TNI officers with those who would be
more accepting of such a step.
Top military brass reportedly expressed their opposition to
dissolving the House during a breakfast meeting with the
President on May 5.
Among those reported to have attended the meeting were
Endriartono, Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Indroko Sastrowiryono and
Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal Hanafie Asnan.
But Abdurrahman again denied on Friday any such plan to issue
a decree dissolving the House.
"I never said a single word that such a decree would be
issued," he said.
Endriartono said on Friday that "when the TNI decided to
advise the President to refrain from issuing the decree, we did
so as part of our total commitment (to the nation), not just as
lip service".
"The President should not ruin our commitment by replacing the
top military leaders," Endriartono said as quoted by Antara.
Indroko and Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) chief
Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu have also insisted that the military
desires to remain above the political bickering and focus on its
professional duties.
Separately, a political observer from the National Institute
of Sciences, Indria Samego, said that despite its public
statements the TNI was still playing a prominent role in the
political arena.
But unlike in the past, the military's active role in politics
is due in large part to appeals from civilian politicians who do
not have the self-confidence to act without the support of
"Indonesian generals", Indria said during a discussion at The
Habibie Center here on Friday.
"People say that the TNI has turned its back on the President
and is forging a closer relationship with Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri. Isn't that a political maneuver?" Indria said.
Nevertheless, he said the TNI leaders were correct in
rejecting attempts to replace senior officers to achieve
political interests.
"A reshuffle is supposed to be something that happens
naturally. But in this case, it has become very interesting due
to the political motivations behind it," Indria remarked. (02)