Mega installs Endriartono as TNI chief to replace Widodo

Annastashya Emmanuelle and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri installed Gen. Endriartono Sutarto as the chief of Indonesian military (TNI) on Friday, and in the process restored command of the TNI to the Army.

Endriartono replaced Adm. Widodo AS, the only TNI chief from outside the Army in the past three decades. Widodo reached his mandatory retirement age of 55 in 1999.

Endriartono's installation annulled a previous agreement on rotating the military's highest post among the three branches of the TNI, namely the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Based on this agreement, the post should have gone to the Air Force.

The fate of the military's internal reforms now hangs in the balance.

Briefing the press after his installation, Endriartono made a number of vague statements on the military's internal reforms and its involvement in the political life of the nation.

"We will try to change the culture of the military in order to bring it more into line with the current situation," Endriartono said without elaborating.

"It is up to the nation to decide whether or not we should withdraw our representatives from the House of Representatives," Endriartono said when asked by reporters as to whether the military would continue to play an active role in politics.

There are currently 38 representatives from the TNI and Police faction sitting in the House. The faction is to stay in the House until 2004, and in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) until 2009.

"(If) this nation decides that we should no longer be involved in politics, than we will abide by that decision, and the TNI will concentrate on defense matters," Endriartono said.

Alluding to the arms embargo imposed on Indonesia due to human rights abuse in East Timor, Endriartono said that the TNI was still in need of foreign assistance as the country was as yet unable to fully equip the armed forces.

"But (any foreign assistance) should not involve interference in our national affairs," he said.

Endriartono, however, pledged loyalty to Megawati's government, saying that he would not tolerate any unconstitutional attempts to disrupt the administration.

In 2001, Endriartono openly opposed President Abdurrahman Wahid's plan to declare a state of emergency, raising concerns that he had committed an act of insubordination against the then president, who by law was also the TNI's supreme commander.

Endriartono, a 1971 graduate of the Armed Forces Academy (Akabri), reached the mandatory retirement age of 55 in April 2002. His military service was extended for five years.

MPR speaker Amien Rais, once known as a strong supporter of civilian supremacy, said on Friday that Endriartono was "the most professional and suitable candidate" for the military's top post.

Endriartono's predecessor Widodo was appointed TNI chief in 1999 by then president Abdurrahman Wahid, making him the first naval officer to head the TNI in more than three decades.

His appointment was hailed by many as a deliberate move to reduce the military's political role as the Navy was perceived to be less interested in politics than the Army.

But during his three years in the top job, Widodo appeared to be reluctant to scrap the Army's territorial role, seen by many as a necessary prerequisite to reducing the military's political muscle.

He also failed to curb ethnic and religious violence in troubled provinces such as Papua, Aceh, Maluku, West and Central Kalimantan, and Central Sulawesi.

The presence of thousands of troops drafted in from outside the troubled regions has only fueled the conflicts there as they have failed to maintain neutrality.

In several critical situations, Widodo looked hesitant to take the initiative, paving the way for the Army to step into the breach.

The show of force by the Army, Navy and Air Force at the National Monument (Monas) square prior to the downfall of Gus Dur in 2001 was led by the then commander of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, who has now been promoted to the Army's top post.