Next TNI chief will be from the Air Force: Agus
JAKARTA (JP): In observance of the new paradigm that the Indonesian Military (TNI) is a united entity of elements from the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, the next TNI leadership will be decided through a rotation system, a senior military officer said on Thursday.
"Based on the rotation system, the next TNI chief will be from the Air Force," TNI Chief of Territorial Affairs Lt. Gen. Agus Widjojo told The Jakarta Post at his office in TNI Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.
He said there should not be any change in the appointment of an Air Force candidate to the post of the next TNI chief, unless there was a political decision which forced the President to alter the decision.
"The final say on the next TNI chief will be in the hands of President Abdurrahman Wahid. So, there may be an alteration if the President has a different opinion on the TNI chief post," he said.
Agus, a 1970 graduate of the National Military Academy, said the rotation system was introduced after thorough evaluation and observation of military structures in other countries, including the United States.
"If we talk about TNI Headquarters, we should no longer talk about our uniforms, whether they are green (Army), white (Navy) or blue (Air Force). We are one," said Agus, whose classmates included former Army chief Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, former TNI deputy chief Gen. Fachrul Razi, incumbent Army chief Gen. Tyasno Sudarto and incumbent Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Slamet Kirbiantoro.
Agus said the structure applied in the United States military, which recognizes the same rotation system for its military leadership.
"The United States military is led by a joint chief of staff who is elected from among the three military forces alternately," he said.
Agus said further that the decision to apply the rotation system was also inspired by the fact that there had been no single country in the world which had won a war only by deploying one of its three military forces.
"The United States managed to win the Gulf War because its Army, Navy and Air Force joined hands as a united military force," he said, referring to the war in the Middle East in 1991 which erupted following Iraq's occupation of Kuwait.
Meanwhile, House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Akbar Tandjung and People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais reminded Abdurrahman to consult the House prior to making any decision to replace incumbent TNI chief Adm. Widodo AS.
Separately interviewed on Thursday, Akbar and Amien said the President should comply with MPR Decree No. VII/MPR/2000 on the roles of TNI and the National Police that he secure House approval prior to dismissing or appointing the TNI chief.
"I warn the President to consult the House or at least send notification prior to replacing the TNI chief.
"If he has any candidates, the President should also consult the House," Akbar said as quoted by Antara at the DPR/MPR building.
He said the House would strongly protest if the President did the same thing as when he replaced Gen. Rusdihardjo as the National Police chief with Gen. Surojo Bimantoro.
"Let us uphold the rule of the game which we have agreed upon, and respect each other. It's true that the House cannot bring him down, but it does not mean that he can act as he wishes.
"Moreover, the mechanism is guaranteed by law," he added.
Similarly, Amien said the President, popularly known as Gus Dur, should consult the House prior to making any decision to replace or appoint a chief of the National Police or the military.
He said reshuffling the military leadership was not as easy as turning over one's hand because the military had its own code of ethics, tradition and experience and as such people outside the military should be careful in making changes involving the military leadership.
"Moreover, the nation is now in a very critical condition. So we cannot take the chance of making the wrong decision," Amien said, while citing the unstable conditions in Aceh and Irian Jaya provinces.
He admitted that a military reshuffle was a common phenomenon in the country, but said that it should be held in observance of the interests of the nation that TNI should no longer be a tool of the ruling power.
"I think Gus Dur should be careful in making any decisions on TNI leadership. He should consult the TNI leaders and not issue instructions as he would to any simple foundation or institution," he said.
Asked whether the next TNI leadership should go to an Army officer, Amien said he could not respond with a "yes" or "no" as the military was a united entity, consisting of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.
"The most important thing is that the criteria for the TNI leadership reshuffle must not be based on the President's short- term interest which might turn out to be 'shaky' for the nation," he said, but did not elaborate.(02/imn)