Central Java to have new military chief

SEMARANG (JP): A new chief will be at the helm of the Diponegoro Regional Military Command today when Maj. Gen. Tyasno Sudarto is installed as commander of the Central Java area.

"Maj. Gen. Tyasno Sudarto will replace Maj. Gen. Mardiyanto in a transfer of duty ceremony led by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo on Monday (today)," spokesman for the Diponegoro military command, Lt. Col. Soegeng Suryanto, said Saturday.

Mardiyanto, a 1970 graduate of the Army Academy, will soon assume a new position at the Armed Forces (ABRI) headquarters as assistant to the Armed Forces Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs.

He took over command of the Diponegoro military command in July, succeeding Subagyo.

Tyasno, also a 1970 graduate of the Army Academy, was assistant for planning and budgeting of the Army Chief of Staff.

Soegeng said Tyasno was initiated as a "family" member of the Diponegoro Military Command in a ceremony Saturday. The ceremony is part of the Central Java military command tradition.

Upon completion of the ceremony, Mardiyanto and his successor Tyasno held a joint briefing for all military district commanders under the Diponegoro military command supervision, and followed by meeting with the local media. (imn)