House pressures government on new TNI commander

House pressures government on new TNI commander

Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The House of Representatives has urged the government to
immediately submit the names of candidates to replace Indonesian
Military (TNI) chief Endriartono Sutarto, giving a three-week
deadline before the legislature goes into recess at the end of
this month.

"This is just a reminder because the President promised to
submit a name(s) in August. We don't want this issue to slip his
mind amid the mounting problems the government faces," House
Speaker Agung Laksono said on Monday.

The House, he said, had three weeks left before going into a
month-long recess, thus the remaining time could be used to find
a replacement for Sutarto.

Having surpassed the retirement age of 55, Sutarto has
frequently expressed a desire to resign.

Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri proposed former Army
chief of staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, 57, apparently a House
favorite, to replace Sutarto during the last weeks of her
administration last year.

However, Megawati's proposal was later withdrawn by President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono after he succeeded her last October.

At present, only four military officers are eligible for the
post. They are Ryamizard, who is only one year away from retiring
at 58 years of age, current Army Chief of Staff Gen. Djoko
Santoso, Navy Chief of Staff Gen. Djoko Suyanto and Air Force
Chief of Staff Gen. Slamet Subianto.

Under the law on the TNI, only those who have been or
currently are a chief of staff and are still active military men
can be elected military chief.

The law also states that the election of a TNI chief must
obtain approval from the House after undergoing screening. Should
the House fail to approve a candidate, the President must submit
a new name.

Deputy chairman of House Commission I on defense and foreign
affairs Effendy Choirie said Sutarto's desire to resign should be
reason enough to name a replacement.

"Besides, Sutarto is very much a senior military man, we need
swift regeneration. The President said a new TNI chief would be
named quickly after the selection of a new police chief," he
said.

Gen. Sutanto became the new National Police chief in July
after obtaining House approval in June.

Effendy said the public was looking for a new TNI chief who
was militarily professional and neutral, one who would avoid
being politicized or used by the government.

"We don't want a TNI chief who interferes in political or
business issues. We want someone who cares about the welfare and
professionalism of soldiers as defenders of the country," he
added.

Effendy claimed that Ryamizard was still a favorite candidate,
adding that the House had been prepared to endorse his nomination
by Megawati.

However, President Susilo's withdrawal of his nomination has
left a big question mark and may lead the process in a different
direction.