Military announces sweeping reshuffle

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Military (TNI) unveiled a major reshuffle on Thursday morning following the official handover of the force's command from Gen. Wiranto to Adm. Widodo A.S.

The reshuffle of a number of strategic positions at TNI Headquarters along with Army and military commands comes on the heels of the formation of a new Cabinet which includes three active generals.

Among the most notable changes announced by TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sudrajat was the appointment of Lt. Gen. Fachrul Razi, a native of Aceh, to fill Widodo's previous post as deputy TNI chief.

The designation of the former secretary-general of the Ministry of Defense was considered particularly poignant given the increasing unrest in his home province.

Other changes include Lt. Gen. Agus Widjaja, former chief of TNI's School of Command, who was appointed chief of TNI's Territorial Affairs, replacing Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The latter will soon retire from active duty to assume his new civilian task as minister of mines and energy.

Maj. Gen. Suaidi Marasabessy, former chief of the Wirabuana Military Command overseeing Sulawesi, was appointed chief of TNI's General Affairs. He replaces Lt. Gen. Sugiono who fills Fachrul's former post at the defense ministry.

Maj. Gen. Poerwadi, former chief of the Siliwangi Military Command overseeing West Java, was appointed assistant to the TNI chief of General Planning, replacing Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah who was appointed chief of the Wirabuana Military Command.

Maj. Gen. Abdul Rahman Gaffar, former chief of the Bukit Barisan Military Command overseeing Aceh, North and West Sumatra and Riau, will head TNI's Center for Infantry, replacing Lt. Gen. Agus Widjaja.

Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri, former chief of the Udayana Military Command supervising Bali, East and West Nusa Tenggara, was appointed assistant to the TNI chief on Operational Affairs, replacing Maj. Gen. Endriartono Sutarto.

Endriartono now heads TNI's School of Command.

Maj. Gen. Yahya Kartawirya, former expert staff at the Ministry of Defense, assumes a new post as assistant to TNI's chief of Territorial Affairs. He replaces Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi.

Col. Herman was appointed chief of TNI's Logistics Affairs.

Lt. Gen. Johny Lumintang, who formerly held the post of deputy Army chief, was appointed governor of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas). The post was previously occupied by Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar, now the minister of communications.

Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago, chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad), took over Johny's former position.

Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman, former chief of the Jakarta Military Command, will now head Kostrad. Djaja's command will be filled by Maj. Gen. Ryamizard, who previously commanded the Brawijaya Military Command overseeing East Java.

Ryamizard was replaced by Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi.

Maj. Gen. Amir Sembiring, former chief of the Trikora Military Command overseeing Irian Jaya, was named assistant to the Army chief on Operational Affairs.

Brig. Gen. Albert Inkiriwang former deputy assistant to the chief of TNI's Territorial Affairs takes over from Amir Sembiring at the Trikora Military Command.

Maj. Gen. Affandi, former chief of the Sriwijaya Military Command overseeing South Sumatra, Bengkulu, Lampung and Jambi, is now chief of the Bukit Barisan Military Command supervising Aceh, North and West Sumatra and Riau.

Maj. Gen. Soetardjo, former chief of TNI's Infantry, was appointed to Affandi's former post at the Sriwijaya Military Command.

Maj. Gen. Slamet Supriadi, a former official at Lemhannas and a former military spokesman, was appointed chief of the Siliwangi Military Command.

Maj. Gen. Suharto, former chief of the Marine Corps, was appointed inspector general of the Ministry of Defense, replacing Lt. Gen. Farid Zainuddin. Suharto is replaced Brig. Gen. Amir P., his former chief of staff at the Marine Corps.

Respect

In his inaugural address, Widodo A.S. called on all ranks to uphold military discipline and respect democracy and human rights in an effort to improve the military's tarnished image.

"Servicemen must stay out of unscrupulous deeds," he said.

"TNI will face heavy tasks and challenges in the future and therefore all must abide by the military code of ethics."

He appealed to those outside the military to put the nation's interests above their own.

Widodo, the first non-Army officer to hold the military's top position, hailed his predecessor's hard work in pioneering internal reform.

"General Wiranto has succeeded in enhancing and improving a sense of solidarity among soldiers in facing rapid changes which are laden with challenges and uncertainty.

"You have been successful in laying down strong fundamentals for changes and adjustments that the military must make in the future to enable it to carry out its defense duties."

Wiranto, who is now the coordinating minister for political affairs and security, recognized the military's challenges during his two-year tenure.

"The military has been faced with numerous, sometimes excessive, demands for changes while at the same time it has had to hold on to its own commitment of maintaining the nation's integrity," he said.

"The military has often been made the subject of blame on issues regarding the (1945) Constitution and the state ideology."

He said the military developed a new paradigm in line with its drive for internal reform. He said it would return to concentrating on its defense function and was committed to gradually phasing out its dual sociopolitical role, including reverting to a neutral stance in party politics. (rms)