Gen. Endriartono looks set to become TNI commander

Gen. Endriartono looks set to become TNI commander

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Lengthy speculation over the military reshuffle was put to
rest on Monday when the House of Representatives received
President Megawati Soekarnoputri's nomination of current Army
chief of staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto as the new Indonesian
Military (TNI) commander, replacing Admiral Widodo Adi Soetjipto.

Endriartono's nomination was confirmed in a letter the
President sent to the House on May 10.

According to the President's letter, which was read out during
the House of Representatives' plenary session here on Monday by
Soebianto, from the House secretariat, Endriartono was considered
capable and competent to lead TNI.

Speculation over Widodo's successor was high when the TNI,
especially the Army, opposed Megawati's plan to replace Widodo
two months ago, saying Widodo was still acceptable.

It reached a peak when Army generals appeared divided over the
issue and, later, reportedly returned to the unwritten rotation
under which the Air Force would have had its turn for the no. 1
position. Other generals competing with Endriartono for the
position were former Army chiefs Gen. Tyasno Sudarto and Gen.
Djadja Suparman, who have no portfolio position at the Army
Headquarters.

The President finally decided on Endriartono, who was expected
to gain approval from the House.

However, Endriartono's nomination has caused some controversy,
as he has already reached the mandatory retirement age of 55 and
because of a recent upsurge in criticism of the military.

The House is unlikely to ask too many questions about
Endriartono's age though, since the President, in her capacity as
supreme commander of TNI, has the prerogative to postpone his
retirement age as long as she wants him to occupy the job, as she
did with Widodo.

According to the Constitution, the president also has the
prerogative to appoint the TNI chief, but following an MPR decree
in 2000 on the role of the TNI and of the National Police, the
appointment requires the House's approval.

"The main issue has become: Is he politically fit for the
job?" said Aberson Marle Sihaloho, an outspoken legislator of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

He predicted it was impossible for the House to turn down
Endriartono's nomination, as was the case with the nomination of
Gen. Da'i Bachtiar as National Police chief last November.

"The House has no other alternative but to give its approval,
because, so far, Endriartono's nomination has gained political
support from PDI Perjuangan and the TNI/National Police faction,"
he said.

A source, who wished to remain anonymous, said that
Endriartono's nomination was crucial for the nation and a
reflection of the military's dark side.

"It seems difficult to imagine that the President nominated a
candidate as TNI commander who was identified with former
president Soeharto's military-style regime. There must be
something wrong, either with the military or the President," the
source said, citing the recent appointment of Maj. Gen. Sjafrie
Sjamsoeddin, linked to the Trisakti tragedy and the May 1998
riots, which indicated that the TNI was moving in a more
reactionary direction.

Endriartono commanded the presidential guard when former
president Soeharto stepped down on May 21, 1998. He joined Widodo
and other military officials to enforce the state of emergency
declared by former president Abdurrahman Wahid ten months ago.

Chairman of House Commission I on security and foreign affairs
Ibrahim Ambong said his commission would assess Endriartono's
vision and proposed program.

"We want to do it (the fit-and-proper test) by the end of this
month so that, we hope, we will have a new TNI commander early in
June," he said.

He implied that, despite its right to object to the
nomination, the House was likely to endorse Endriartono, because
Megawati has given him her support, and the candidate was
expected to win support from both the PDI Perjuangan and TNI
factions.

Ambong said the military under Endriartono would inherit a
number of major problems that urgently needed to be resolved.

"The police and the military are facing prolonged conflicts
and secessionist movements in Aceh, Maluku and Papua (Irian
Jaya). The military's commitment to the law and human rights is
also being tested in many human rights abuse cases involving
numerous senior officers," he said.

Endriartono, born in the Central Java town of Purworejo on
April 29, 1947, graduated from the Army Academy in 1971, occupied
a strategic position at TNI Headquarters in 1998 and was the Army
deputy chief on March 8, 2000, before being appointed to his
current job on Oct. 9, 2000.

Endriartono's nomination has caused speculation over two top
posts in the Army. He had also taken over the deputy Army chief
position after Lt. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri retired on May 1, 2002.

The names of Army's Strategic Reserves (Kostrad) Commander Lt.
Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu and Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago have risen
to the surface as possible replacement for Endriartono.

PDI Perjuangan legislator Tjahyo Kumolo said the Army had only
a few three-star generals and of them, Djamari and Ryamizard were
the most suitable.

"The two have the same vision as newly appointed Air Force
Chief Vice Marshall Chappy Hakim and Navy Chief Vice Admiral
Bernard Sondakh, to form a united military with the next TNI
commander," he said.