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.