Govt may replace TNI chief soon

Govt may replace TNI chief soon

JAKARTA: The government is expected to submit to the House of Representatives names of candidates to replace Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto after President Susilo Bambang returns from an overseas trip later this month.

"Names of proposed replacements have been presented to the President, but there has been no directive from him concerning the issue. Maybe after he returns home from the United States," State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra said on Thursday.

Susilo is scheduled to fly to New York on Sept. 10 to attend a world's leaders forum and will return home on Sept. 24 after visiting Middle East countries including Saudi Arabia, where he will perform a minor haj pilgrimage in Mecca.

Yusril could not say as to why the government had postponed the replacement of Sutarto, despite it being planned during the presidency of Megawati Soekarnoputri last year.

"I don't know the reason," the minister simply said.

Earlier, lawmakers reiterated their call for the government to soon replace Endriartono, who has tendered his resignation as TNI commander. --Antara