Military chief to be replaced

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali

Maj. Gen. M. Idris Gassing, the Bukit Barisan Military Commander overseeing northern Sumatra, will soon be replaced by Brig. Gen. Tritamtomo, currently chief of the Jakarta Garrison.

The decision to replace Gassing came almost one month after the attack by an Army airborne unit in Binjai on the local police station and Mobile Brigade headquarters. The airborne unit fell under Gassing's supervision.

"The current chief of the Bukit Barisan Command will be replaced by the Jakarta Garrison commander immediately. I have already signed the order on the replacement," Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu told reporters during a visit to Bali on Thursday.

Gassing is to be given a desk job in Army headquarters in Jakarta.

Asked whether the reshuffle was due to the recent clash between the police and soldiers, Ryamizard said: "Such replacements in the military are normal and all soldiers must be ready to accept any assignments."

Ryamizard also declined to comment on whether there would be an upcoming major reshuffle in the Army following the replacement.

The general is visiting Bali to brief soldiers stationed in the province following the Oct. 12 Legian tragedy, saying that the recent bombing in Bali also reflecting the Army's weak territorial capabilities on the tourist resort.

He said the military would not interfere with the investigation into the tragedy that killed at least 184 and wounded hundreds of others.