House must not confirm Ryamizard as TNI chief: Analysts

House must not confirm Ryamizard as TNI chief: Analysts

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

President-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should not hesitate to
exercise his prerogative to install a military chief willing to
implement reform in the institution, observers said on Saturday.

Andi Widjajanto, a military analyst with the University of
Indonesia, and Kusnanto Anggoro of the Centre for Strategic and
International Studies (CSIS) were of the opinion that although
Susilo would face no legal obstacles in appointing his preferred
choice of military chief, it would be difficult for him to
overcome the psychological barrier in the face of the appointment
of Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu as the acting Indonesian
Military (TNI) chief.

Outgoing president Megawati Soekarnoputri has accepted TNI
chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto's resignation and named Ryamizard
as acting chief pending approval from the House of
Representatives.

"This will be the first test for SBY, whether he will complete
military reform," Andi said, referring to Susilo by his initials.
"On the other hand, the TNI's pledge to stay neutral will be put
to the test as they have to obey the orders of the president,
including as regards the choice of TNI chief," Andi said.

The House will start discussing Megawati's appointment of
Ryamizard as the acting TNI chief on Monday. Ryamizard has also
commanded the Army's Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad)
following the retirement of its previous commander, Lt. Gen.
Bibit Waluyo.

It remains unclear why Endriartono, who reached the mandatory
retirement age of 55 two years ago, tendered his resignation to
the outgoing president rather than waiting for the inauguration
of the new president.

Andi said that normally a TNI chief would wait to tender his
resignation to the new president in order to provide the latter
with the opportunity of appointing whomsoever he or she
considered suitable for the job.

Kusnanto suggested that the new House, which was inaugurated
on Oct. 1, reject Megawati's decision, primarily based on the
argument that the House has yet to establish its commissions.

The House is expected to set up its commissions by the end of
the month and start working early in November.

"The decision, which has been taken by the President only days
before she leaves office, is bizarre. The House must not endorse
it as they have yet to form a commission to discuss it," he said.

Andi said the House's approval would open the door for a legal
challenge in the Constitutional Court due to the failure to
comply with constitutional procedures in selecting the new TNI
chief.

More than half of the 550 House seats are controlled by the
Nationhood Coalition, which includes Megawati's Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Golkar Party and the
Prosperous Peace Party (PDS).

Meanwhile, House Speaker Agung Laksono said the House
leadership would hold a consultation meeting with the leaders of
its 10 factions to discuss Megawati's appointment of Ryamizard as
acting TNI chief.

"So far, Gen. Endriartono Sutarto remains the TNI chief as we
have yet to approve the President's decision," he said.

Separately, National Intelligence Agency (BIN) director Gen.
(ret) A.M. Hendropriyono said Endriartono had told him beforehand
about his plan to resign.

Hendropriyono said Endriartono had decided to tender his
resignation as he had already reached retirement age.

"As a colleague, I asked him to complete his duties as the
state is still in need of his services," said Hendropriyono, who
was recently promoted to the rank of honorary four-star general
by Megawati, a decision that was opposed by Endriartono as it
flew in the face of established procedures.