House commission delays discussion on military chief

House commission delays discussion on military chief

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The House of Representatives' defense commission announced on
Monday it would delay the discussion on the appointment of Army
head Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu as acting Indonesian Military (TNI)
chief, pending the election of a commission chairman.

House leaders and the 11 faction chairs held a meeting on
Monday to discuss the composition and leadership of the
commissions.

House Speaker Agung Laksono said after the meeting that the
factions had reached an agreement on the composition of the
commissions and some supporting bodies, including the House's
body on household affairs, the steering committee, an honors
council and the House's budget committee.

"The election of the leaders of the commissions will be
discussed further," said Agung, without providing any details on
the composition or leadership of the commissions.

A House plenary meeting last Friday tasked Commission I for
defense to discuss an order from outgoing President Megawati
Soekarnoputri on the resignation of TNI chief Gen. Endriartono
Sutarto and the appointment of Ryamizard as acting TNI chief.

Megawati's decision to appoint Ryamizard as acting TNI chief
has drawn strong criticism from analysts and politicians, who say
she should not take strategic decisions in the final days of her
administration.

Megawati, who took over the national leadership in 2001 after
the People's Consultative Assembly impeached former president
Abdurrahman Wahid, will end her term on Oct. 20, when president-
elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will be sworn in.

Debate over the appointment of Ryamizard has polarized the
House factions into two groups -- one accepting the appointment
and the other opposed to it.

The Golkar faction, which has the most seats in the House, has
said the House must immediately discuss and approve the
resignation of Endriartono.

That position is also held by Megawati's Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) and
the Reform Star Party (PBR).

The United Development Party (PPP), the Democratic Party (PD),
the National Mandate Party (PAN), the National Awakening Party
(PKB) the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Democratic
Pioneer Star (BPD) are urging any decision on the issue be
delayed until the inauguration of Susilo.

According to the law, the TNI chief is appointed by the
president, with the House's approval.

House Commission I was scheduled to meet on Monday to begin
discussing the appointment of Ryamizard as the acting TNI chief,
but decided to delay the meeting pending the election of a
commission chairman.

The House's plenary session on Friday also agreed to increase
the number of commissions from nine to 11, but failed to reach an
agreement on the leadership and composition of the commissions.

"The hearing of the defense commission on the resignation of
the TNI chief will begin after the composition of the commission
is approved. The debate will likely start after Oct. 20,"
legislator Amin Said Husni said, referring to the date set for
the inauguration of Susilo.

Amin said factions would be represented on the commissions
according the number of seats they hold in the House.

Zainal Arifin of the PDI-P said discussion of the composition
of commissions would resume on Oct. 21, after the inauguration of
the new president and vice president.

He said the PDI-P should receive three commission chairs and
six commission deputy chairs.