Further TNI shake-up 'not to effect top officers'
Further TNI shake-up 'not to effect top officers'
JAKARTA (JP): Outgoing Indonesian Military chief (TNI) Maj.
Gen. Sudrajat confirmed on Sunday a further reshuffle in the
armed forces, but denied it would effect the top brass.
"Yes, there will be some rotations within TNI in response to
the President's request, but it won't be that prominent. It's
just an ordinary tour of duty," Sudrajat told The Jakarta Post.
He said the reshuffle would encompass officers whose ranks
were either colonel or brigadier general. Without disclosing any
names and posts, he said the replacements would take place in
February at the latest.
Speculation of some changes in TNI has been rife, due to
President Abdurrahman Wahid's preference for non-Army officers
for some key TNI posts that traditionally went to the Army,
dating back to the appointment of Adm. Widodo Adisucipto as TNI
chief.
Abdurrahman sprang another surprise when he openly announced
the replacement of Sudrajat by Air Rear Marshal Graito Usodo on
Thursday. The news came on the heels of the appointment of
another Air Force officer, Air Rear Marshal Ian Santoso
Perdanakusumah, to head TNI's Strategic Intelligence Agency
(BAIS).
Antara quoted a military source who said Widodo, Army Chief of
Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal
Hanafie, the Army's Strategic and Reserves Commander Maj. Gen.
Djadja Suparman and Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen.
Ryamizard Ryacudu would join the wagon.
Another source, who requested anonymity, said the reshuffle
would conclude with the replacement of Coordinating Minister for
Political Affairs and Security Gen. Wiranto by Widodo. The TNI
top post will be given to Tyasno.
Former TNI chief Wiranto is among nine retired and active
military top brass now under scrutiny for their alleged
involvement in human rights abuses in East Timor.
State Minister of the Empowerment of Women Khofifah Indar
Parawansa said recently that human rights abuses and graft cases
were the motivation for a reshuffle in the Cabinet.
Sudrajat labeled the reports as groundless, saying any
replacement in TNI would need approval from the highest
consultation board for officer's ranks and positions (Wanjakti).
He disclosed that the board would meet on Monday and was
scheduled to discuss the rotation of some colonels and brigadier
generals.
"We can expect the results of the meeting within the week," he
said on Sunday.
Included in the major agenda of the board meeting will be
talks on the retirement of four TNI top officials currently
serving in Abdurrahman's Cabinet.
They are Wiranto, Minister of Mines and Energy Lt. Gen. Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, Minister of Communications Lt. Gen. Agum
Gumelar and State Minister of State Administrative Reforms Rear
Adm. Freddy Numberi.
The law states that military officers appointed to or seeking
nonmilitary posts must resign from active service.
"Administrative clearances for the retirements have already
been prepared, but I think it will take some time to process the
documents. Perhaps the administrative procedures will be
completed in April or March," Sudrajat said. (emf)