Army chief succession next week

JAKARTA: Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto will hand over his post to his successor on June 5 at the latest, an officer said on Thursday.

Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Ratyono said preparations were now underway for the transfer of duty, including the deliberation to pick the definite replacement for Endriartono.

"Should the transfer of duty is earlier than scheduled, we will have to work overtime to make sure we're prepared for the event," Ratyono told Antara.

The House has approved Endriartono's nomination for the Indonesian Military's (TNI) top post to replace Adm. Widodo A.S. Sources said President Megawati Soekarnoputri will install Endriartono as the new TNI commander before June 4.

TNI chief of general affairs Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago and Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) chief Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu have been widely touted as the new Army chief. -- Antara

;JP;AMD; ANPAa..r.. Scene-Assembly-deputy Plan to delay Cholil's induction opposed JP/4/SCENE

Plan to delay Cholil's induction opposed

JAKARTA: The National Awakening Party (PKB) faction at the People's Consultative Assembly has opposed a plan to delay the induction of Cholil Bisri as the legislative body's deputy speaker to June 20.

Chairman of the party's faction in the Assembly, Yusuf Muhammad, met with the Assembly leaders to file its formal protest against the latter's decision to move back the date of a ceremony to swear in Cholil from its original schedule on June 5.

Gus Yus, as Yusuf is popularly known, said the delay violated an earlier agreement between PKB and Assembly leaders who had set a June 5 date for the ceremony.

PKB's objection has received support from Golkar, the United Development Party and the Reform faction.

Assembly speaker Amien Rais said many of the MPR leaders would not be available for the ceremony on June 5.

Reform faction chairman AM Luthfi said the Assembly leaders would regroup on June 3 to discuss PKB's protest. -- JP