Hartono will likely replace Wismoyo

Hartono will likely replace Wismoyo

JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung confirmed yesterday that Lt. Gen. R. Hartono is being prepared to become the Army chief of staff to replace Gen. Wismoyo Arismunandar, who is retiring this month.

"Hartono indeed is the candidate," Feisal told reporters yesterday before attending a cabinet meeting at Bina Graha Presidential Office.

"It's not in black and white yet," he said when asked about when the official announcement is expected. "It has to go through the administration process."

"I haven't as yet even received the presidential ruling to relieve Wismoyo of his position. So how can I make the announcement," he said when reporters asked about the reasons for the delay in the announcement.

Sources in the military said that Hartono's formal appointment has been tentatively scheduled for this Saturday.

Hartono, born in Pamekasan in the Madura Island in East Java, is currently the ABRI chief of Socio-political Affairs.

He graduated from the National Military Academy in 1962, one year before Wismoyo did. But he is a year younger than his predecessor. His previous stints in the military include: governor of ABRI's think tank group National Resilience Institute, chief of ABRI's Staff and Command College, and chief of the Brawijaya Military Command in East Java.

Wismoyo was once tipped to become ABRI chief but lost out to Feisal in 1993. Instead, he was appointed Army chief of staff. He turns 55 years old, the mandatory retirement age in the military, this Friday and it now looks certain that President Soeharto will not extend his active service like he did with Feisal.

Wismoyo, who is related to the President by marriage, was last week elected to become chief of the National Sports Council. (emb)