New spokesman at Armed Forces

New spokesman at Armed Forces

JAKARTA (JP): Brig. Gen. Suwarno Adiwijoyo was sworn in as the Armed Forces (ABRI) new spokesman on Friday, replacing Maj. Gen. Syarwan Hamid.

Suwarno was formerly chief of staff of the Siliwangi Military Command, which oversees security in West Java. Syarwan was promoted to the position of assistant to the chief of ABRI's socio-political affairs.

Chief of ABRI's General Affairs Lt. Gen. Soeyono, who swore in Suwarno at the Armed Forces headquarters, said that ABRI hopes to improve communication with the local and international public.

"As ABRI's 'loud speaker' the information center must nurture good communication with all sides," he said.

He added that ABRI is working to instill professionalism in its officers when carrying out its activities and policies. He also asked the new spokesman to improve ABRI's proficiency in the area of diplomacy.

Suwarno said he would treat journalists as ABRI's "partners" and would be at their disposal.

Suwarno, who graduated in 1966 from the Military Academy in Magelang, Central Java, started his military career as a platoon commander in the infantry battalion of the Udayana Military Command in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara from 1967 through 1969 and in Ende from 1969 through 1973.

His longest service has been with the Siliwangi Military Command, which oversees security in West Java. He was appointed chief of the infantry battalion in Sumedang in 1982, chief of the Ciamis military district in 1983, assistant to the chief of staff of the Siliwangi Military Command in 1988 and chief of staff of the military command in 1993.

Suwarno, who also speaks English and German, was born in Banyuwangi, East Java, on April 21, 1942. He is married with three children. (rms)