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)