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)