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.