No names for TNI chief candidates submitted
No names for TNI chief candidates submitted
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Until now, President Megawati Soekarnoputri has not received
names of any candidates for the chief post of the Indonesian
Military (TNI) from the military leadership, State/Cabinet
Secretary Bambang Kesowo said on Thursday.
A delay in the submission of the candidate list would further
lengthen the appointment process, Bambang said; the President, he
added, was waiting for the TNI to provide the names.
He said that the President had discussed the issue with TNI
Chief Adm. Widodo A.S., but so far no follow-up has taken place.
"I do not understand the process at TNI headquarters. There
was a discussion between the President and TNI chief on the
issue, but so far no names have been submitted as candidates,"
Bambang said.
Megawati expressed her intention to replace Widodo, who
entered his retirement age in 1999.
Last month, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono noted that the selection process
had begun, and would be decided within the next two months.
According to People's Consultative Assembly Decree No.7/2000,
the President is required to ask for approval from the House of
Representatives in appointing the TNI chief.
Bambang underscored that the President actually had the power
to ask Widodo to provide the names as soon as possible, because
the President could not appoint any high-ranking officials as TNI
chief without the recommendation.
The replacement of Widodo has long been a hot issue,
particularly after Akbar Tandjung revealed in November 2001 that
the President was ready to replace the TNI chief.
Widodo, a 1968 graduate of the Navy Academy, reached the
retirement age of 55 in 1999. But his term of office was extended
pending the appointment of a new TNI chief.
The new Defense Law, passed in November, stipulates that only
officers on active duty who have experience as chief of staff,
are eligible for the top TNI post.
Megawati at the time, however, was opposed by the chiefs of
staff who maintained that it was best to retain Widodo as
military chief in order to maintain TNI unity.