Impending reshuffle in TNI denied
Impending reshuffle in TNI denied
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Adm. Widodo
A.S. poured cold water on rumors of an impending major shake-up
in the Armed Forces.
Speaking at a hearing on Tuesday with House Commission I for
defense, foreign and political affairs, Widodo said he had not
heard of any reports regarding the reshuffle.
"I have not seen any meeting or read any document related to
the planned reshuffle. If there was any, the meeting would have
had no influence on us," Widodo said.
He unveiled, however, promotions for some officers in the near
future, but no official announcement will be made saying "it is a
common rotation".
Rumors of a meeting between top military and civilian
officials aimed at accelerating a reshuffle in favor of Army
Chief of Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto and chief of Army Strategic
Reserves Command (Kostrad) Lt. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah have
been circulating over the past few days.
Participants of the meeting reportedly approved a document
called Bulak Rantai, which refers to the site of the gathering in
a housing complex of senior Army officers in Kramat Jati, East
Jakarta. The meeting was said to have been hosted by Maj. Gen.
Saurip Kadi, the territorial assistant to Tyasno, on April 16.
Prominent attendants included Agus, Jakarta Military Command's
Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Romulo Simbolon, then acting state
secretary Bondan Gunawan and some student activists, according to
the document.
It said the military clique was intended to cut the network of
officers linked to former Kostrad chief Lt. Gen. Djadja Suparman
and former TNI chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto. This, according to the
document, will pave the way for Agus and Romulo to occupy key
posts as Army chief of staff and Jakarta Military commander
respectively.
Consequently, the document speculated Tyasno would replace
Widodo and Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu
would be promoted to Kostrad chief.
Saurip confirmed the meeting, but denied any ploy to pave the
way for those military men to occupy the top posts in the Army.
"What was called Bulak Rantai was a ceremony to celebrate my
rank's promotion from one-star general to two-star general," said
Saurip as quoted by Tekad weekly tabloid.
Saurip denied that Bondan, often called the patron of the
grouping, attended the meeting.
Bondan resigned from his post recently following reports of
his alleged involvement in the State Logistics Agency (Bulog)
scandal.
It was not known whether the resignation of Bondan was also
linked to the disclosure of the document.
Widodo lashed out on Tuesday at media reports of the major
reshuffle, saying TNI had always complied with its standard
procedures in case of promotion and rotation of officers.
He said the decision concerning posts elevating officers to
major generals fell entirely on the TNI council for high-ranking
promotions and duty rotations (Wanjakti), while those regarding
the chiefs of staff went to the President. Other promotions of
senior officers to strategic posts, such as Kostrad and the
Army's Special Force (Kopassus), will be decided by Wanjakti upon
hearing the President's opinion.
Tyasno, who accompanied Widodo during the hearing, was
tightlipped about the reports. He denied on Friday the rumors of
conspiracy involving Agus and Bondan and a plan to precipitate an
Army reshuffle.
Tyasno also stressed that no outside individuals could
influence a military reshuffle.
On a separate occasion, Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono
said the planned reshuffle in the Army had nothing to do with his
office or his efforts to promote civilian supremacy over the
military.
"The shake-up had nothing to do with my office because TNI is
not under the authority of the Ministry of Defense. I do not have
the right to comment on the reshuffle," Juwono said on Tuesday.
Juwono refused to elaborate further on the issue, although his
office joins Wanjakti.
Meanwhile, Ryamizard denied his involvement in the reported
meeting.
"I often tell my subordinates, and also myself, that we must
focus on our duties and not think about others. If you are
involved in the affairs of others, it will reduce you to an
unprofessional soldier," Ryamizard said after a military function
in the command's main regiment (Rindam) in Condet, East Jakarta.
Ryamizard said he handed over the matter to the council to
decide whether he would advance his career.
"I don't like to dream. It would hurt me if the dream did not
happen," he said. (asa/rms/dja)