Next TNI chief will be from the Air Force: Agus

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)