Gen. Wiranto denies reports of reshuffle in the Army

Gen. Wiranto denies reports of reshuffle in the Army

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces
(ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto has denied reports that Army Chief
Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo is to be replaced in the near future.

"For the time being, ABRI has no plan to conduct a reshuffle
in the Army because we are concentrating on efforts to make the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) a success," Wiranto told
reporters after closing a short course for 72 officers and
Civilians at the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) here
yesterday.

Asked about the possibility that a reshuffle would be
conducted after the Special Session, he said "Wait and see. If
there is to be a replacement of the Army chief, I will myself
announce it. But, if there is no announcement, there will be no
replacement in the Army's top position."

Gen. Subagyo, who also attended the short course's closing
ceremony, said he had not yet received any information from the
ABRI leadership about his replacement in the near future.

"Frankly speaking, I have yet to receive any information or
order from ABRI concerning any reshuffle," he said.

Republika daily reported on Friday that Subagyo would be
replaced in the near future and Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudoyono,
current chief of ABRI's Socio-political Affairs, has been nomi
nated to succeed him.

Subagyo, however, said he would be ready should the military
leadership want to replace him. He said, "To me, my current job
is an amanah (mandate) ...I must be ready to transfer it to
another official any time necessary."

"I have no ambition to maintain my job and I am prepared to do
whatever the ABRI leadership wants me to do and go wherever I am
assigned," he said. (rms)