Golkar figures promoted

JAKARTA (JP): Four retired military officers who head Golkar Party's provincial chapters had their ranks promoted on Thursday.

They reported their special promotion to Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Wiranto at TNI Headquarters in the city's eastern subdistrict of Cilangkap later in the day.

The promoted party executives were chairman of the party's Jakarta chapter Maj. Gen. (ret) Tadjus Sobirin, his South Sulawesi counterpart Maj. Gen. (ret) Muhammad Amin Syam, Brig. Gen. (ret) Mochammad Hasbi of Central Java and Brig. Gen. (ret) Sutomo of East Java.

The promotion came after Wiranto was picked as the running mate of Golkar's presidential candidate the incumbent B.J. Habibie on Wednesday.

But Tadjus denied any link between Wiranto's vice presidential candidacy and his promotion.

"This was planned two years ago, but it materialized only today," Tadjus said.

Also promoted were former Golkar advisor and minister of home affairs Gen. (ret) Yogie S. Memed and three active military officers, who included Army Training and Education Affairs Director Brig. Gen. SM Simanjuntak. (amd)