New military chief for Kalimantan

BALIKPAPAN, East Kalimantan: A combat-hardened soldier, Maj. Gen. Sang Nyoman Suwisma, was installed as the new regional military commander overseeing the vast area of Kalimantan yesterday.

The transfer of duty, led by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, was held at the Tanjungpura Regional Military Command headquarters in Balikpapan yesterday.

Suwisma replaced Maj. Gen. Muchdi P.R., who is to be installed as the new Commander of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus). The post has been vacant since Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto was installed as commander of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) last Friday.

Suwisma, born in Bali in May 1949, spent most of his military career with Kopassus.

He graduated from the Armed Forces Academy in 1971 and then began his career teaching cadets at the same institution. He was an instructor at the academy for three years before being recruited into the elite Kopassus unit in 1974.

He spent 20 years and eight months in the special forces and participated in military operations at home and abroad with the unit.

He was later appointed commander of the Lampung based Garuda Hitam Military Command and head of the School for Prospective Higher-Ranking Military Officials, before being appointed Commander of Kostrad's first division late last year. (42/imn)