Edy promoted to major general

JAKARTA (JP): Edy Waluyo, the City Council Speaker, will be promoted to major general, an employee of the council said yesterday. An official announcement is expected from the Ministry of Security and Defense on Monday.

The promotion means that Jakarta's Governor and City Council Speaker are now of equal military rank. City Governor Sutiyoso, a former Jakarta Military Commander, also holds the rank of major general.

Edy, 53, is a 1968 graduate of National Military Academy (AMN), the precursor of the Armed Forces Military Academy (Akabri).

In recent history, heads of the council and city have held equal military rank. "Maj. Gen (ret) M.H. Ritonga and Maj. Gen. (ret) Surjadi Soedirdja were equal partners from 1992-1997", councillor Saud Rachman said.

The promotion is a good thing. Hopefully, with the same rank, the two leaders will now act as equal partners, he added. (edt)