Gus Dur, Wiranto dissatisfied over military reshuffle

Gus Dur, Wiranto dissatisfied over military reshuffle

JAKARTA (JP): The controversy surrounding the reshuffle of 74
Indonesia Military (TNI) officers continued on Wednesday with
President Abdurrahman Wahid and former military chief Gen.
Wiranto expressing dissatisfaction over the changes.

Monday's reshuffle was seen by many as a process of removing
loyalists of Wiranto from the top ranks of the military. And
comments on Thursday seemed to indicate that a fair bit of
politicking may have been involved.

President Abdurrahman Wahid denied suggestions that the
reshuffle was his personal doing, but acknowledged that he did
ask TNI chief Adm. Widodo A.S. to "look out for" outspoken
Wirabuana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah.

But the President said he did not specifically ask that Agus
be put in charge of the Army Strategic Reserves Command
(Kostrad), replacing Lt. Gen. Djadja Suparman.

"I asked the military commander not to squander Agus'
(talent). Place him in Jakarta, he is a good thinker,"
Abdurrahman said on Wednesday.

But at the same time as lauding Agus, the President also
seemed to cast a shadow on his military skills as the Kostrad
commander.

"I don't know his other abilities apart from being a thinker.
Whether or not he can lead Kostrad, that's not my business. It's
the business of the TNI commander and the Army chief," he said.

Agus' appointment to replace Djadja was among the most notable
in the military shakeup. Agus is known as one of the progressive
thinkers in the military and for sharp critical comments.

Suspended coordinating minister for political affairs and
security Gen. Wiranto took particular exception to Agus' comments
about him and publicly attacked him for his "indecent" remarks
toward a more senior ranking officer.

Abdurrahman also expressed his regret on Wednesday that the
chief of the presidential security guards, Maj. Gen. Suwandi, was
also removed.

"I called him (Suwandi) this morning and told him to be
patient," he said without elaborating.

Suwandi is being posted at TNI Headquarters, while Brig. Gen.
I Putu Sastra W., the head of the Intelligence Unit at Military
Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS), will take over the
presidential security duties.

Despite questioning the appointments, Abdurrahman stressed
that this was fully under the authority of the TNI chief.

"I have nothing to do with it and frankly I also disagree with
the positioning of some officers in the reshuffle," Abdurrahman
said.

Separately during a hearing at the House of Representatives,
former TNI chief Gen. Wiranto lashed out at speculation that
Monday's reshuffle was a recalibration away from Wiranto.

Wiranto insisted that he never built a group of loyalists
within the military ranks.

Commenting on the appointment of Agus as the new Kostrad
chief, Wiranto covertly suggested that the two-star general was
not suitable to head the command.

"For me (Agus) is a bad bird. But maybe the TNI chief sees
(him) as a beautiful songbird," Wiranto quipped.

Wiranto contended that during his tenure as military chief
from 1997 to October 1999 he only picked the best officers for
strategic positions, including former Kostrad chief Lt. Gen.
Djadja Suparman.

"I warn you, this country will lose its best sons if the best
officers are replaced," he said, citing morality, capability,
acceptability and a track record as the basis for his selection.

Djadja was fuming on Tuesday that he had not been informed by
his direct superior, Army Chief Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, but learned
of his removal from news reports.

Under the new reshuffle, Djadja has been sent to Bandung, West
Java, to head TNI's Staff and Command School.

Tyasno contended on Wednesday that the announcement had
adhered to proper procedure.

He contended that Djadja was not informed because the TNI
chief had yet to sign the specific orders. Once that is done the
officers in question will be formally notified of their new
assignments.

He did not explain why it was made public on Monday through
the TNI spokesman in a specially held media briefing.

Tyasno further defended himself by saying that he was out of
town on Monday and Tuesday and thus could not inform Djadja and
the other officers. (emf/jun/prb)