Navy to send off Widodo

SURABAYA: The Navy has arranged a special ceremony to send off former Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Widodo A.S., an officer said on Friday.

The date for the event remained undecided, but spokesman for the Navy Eastern Fleet Lt. Col. Giri Suroso Trilaksono said it might take place after Widodo officially passed his command baton to successor Gen. Endriartono Sutarto on June 18.

The farewell ceremony would take place at fleet headquarters in the East Java capital of Surabaya, Giri said.

Widodo, a 1968 Navy Academy graduate, is the first officer outside the Army to have held the TNI's top post. He was appointed by former president Abdurrahman Wahid in 1999, after briefly serving as deputy TNI chief.

Breaking the usual practice, Giri said Widodo would be the only officer to receive the honor. A farewell ceremony used to take place in the Navy Academy, also in Surabaya.

"Admiral Widodo is the Navy's best protege, so he deserves the special treatment," Giri said. -- Antara