East Java gets new commander

SURABAYA: The post of the Brawijaya military command will be officially handed over to its new commander, Maj. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, on Thursday.

Antara reported that Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo HS was scheduled to lead the ceremony handing the post over from former commander Maj. Gen. Djoko Subroto to Ryamizard in Surabaya.

The handover follows the Armed Forces' announcement of a major reshuffle in the Armed Forces involving several high ranking officers.

"After the handover, a traditional corps farewell will be held after the evening tarawih prayers," spokesman Lt. Col. Djoko Agus S. said.

Maj. Gen. Djoko, who only led the command for six months, will take up his new post as inspector general at Army headquarters.

During his short term, Djoko, who graduated from the military academy in 1970, was faced with the still unsolved East Java killing spree which has so far claimed hundreds of lives. Many parties suspect the involvement of military members in the killings.

Maj. Gen. Ryamizard, former chief of staff of the Army's Strategic Reserve Command and a son-in-law of former vice president Gen. (ret.) Try Sutrisno, has served previously in East Java as part of the command's infantry division in Singosari, Malang.