Army chief Subagyo defends TNI reshuffle

JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo said on Tuesday that a recent major reshuffle within the force complied with standard procedures.

After installing new Deputy Army chief Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago at Army Headquarters, Subagyo said that a constant turnover in the military was part of efforts to improve personnel's leadership, management and professional capabilities.

The deputy army chief post was handed over from Lt. Gen. Johny Lumintang to Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago, who relinquished his Army Strategic Command top post to outgoing Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman.

Johny, a classmate of Subagyo's, will hold a new post as the National Resilience Institute governor in place of Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar, who was appointed a Cabinet minister.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) announced a major reshuffle on Nov. 4 following the change of guard of the force's command from Gen. Wiranto to Adm. Widodo A.S.

The reshuffle came hot on the heels of the formation of a new Cabinet, which includes three active generals.

Subagyo will also install new regional military commanders, starting from Nov. 16 with the handover of the Brawijaya Military Command from Maj. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu to Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi, said Army spokesman Brig. Gen. I Dewa Putu Rai.

Ryacudu will take over from Djadja on Nov. 19.

The Sriwijaya Military Command, which oversees South Sumatra, Bengkulu, Lampung and Jambi, will have a new chief, Maj. Gen. Soetardjo, who replaces on Nov. 18 Maj. Gen. Affandi. Affandi will hold a new post as Bukit Barisan Military Commander, replacing on Dec. 1 Maj. Gen. AR Gaffar.

In Bandung, Maj. Gen. Slamet Supriyadi will take over on Nov. 29 from Maj. Gen. Purwadi as the Siliwangi Military Commander.

Fresh from his East Timor duties, Maj. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri will fill in the shoes of Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri as chief of the Udayana Military Command overseeing Bali and Nusa Tenggara.

Subagyo will install on Dec. 7 Brig. Gen. Albert Inkiriwang as chief of the Trikora Military Command overseeing Irian Jaya in place of Maj. Gen. Amir Sembiring.

The last transfer of duty will be held on Dec. 8, with Maj. Gen. Suaidi Marassabesy handing over leadership of the Wirabuana Military Command to Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah. (04)