JP/1/RYAMIZARD

JP/1/RYAMIZARD

BOX:

A brief on Ryamizard

Ryamizard Ryacudu, a 1974 Armed Forces Academy graduate, was born
52 years ago in Palembang, South Sumatra, and is married to Nora,
a daughter of former vice president Try Sutrisno.

To many people, the appointment of Ryamizard to the top Army
post comes as no surprise as they believe that he and President
Megawati Soekarnoputri have an "emotional attachment".
Ryamizard's father, the late Maj. Gen. Ryacudu, was a loyalist of
first president Sukarno, who was Megawati's father. Megawati's
husband Taufik Kiemas was also born in Palembang.

Ryamizard spent most of his military career in the Army's
Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad), from platoon commander in
1976 all the way to commander in 2000.

He completed his Military Academy in 1974. His foreign
assignments between 1976 to 1991 included Malaysia, Australia,
the United States and China. He attracted international attention
when he led the Indonesian Armed Forces delegation to Cambodia in
1993 to support the UN peacekeeping force's mission there.

He was appointed Jakarta Military commander in 1999 to replace
Lt. Gen. Djadja Suparman.

In contrast to many generals who engaged in politics, the
former 1999 East Java-based Brawijaya Military commander, would
rather concentrate on military exercises in remote areas.

The Surveillance and Combat Platoon (Tontaipur) -- a fusion of
Kostrad intelligence units-- was establishment during his
command.