No political motives behind Fachrul's dismissal: Widodo

No political motives behind Fachrul's dismissal: Widodo

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Adm. Widodo
A.S. denied political motives were behind the dismissal of TNI
deputy chief Gen. Fachrul Razi, calling the move part of an
ongoing program in military headquarters.

"No, there is no political motive behind the decision. It's
part of the ongoing validation program to make TNI Headquarters
more effective and efficient," he said here on Thursday when
asked about rumors of a power struggle in the military.

He said Presidential Decree No. 65, which was issued on
Wednesday, stipulated not only Fachrul's dismissal, but also the
dissolution of the post of TNI deputy chief in the military
hierarchy, because this position was not regulated by law.

Asked whether similar positions in the Army, Navy and Air
Force would be also dissolved, Widodo said the matter was still
under evaluation.

He said the whole military organization, including TNI
Headquarters, had to be revamped in compliance with the 2000
People's Consultative Assembly decree on the role of the TNI and
the National Police, and with the ongoing review of the 1982 law
on defense.

"The reorganization is also needed to avoid the overlapping of
tasks in TNI Headquarters and the military forces," he said.

Separately, TNI spokesman Rear Marshal Graito Usodo confirmed
the military had a "grand design" for its validation program, to
make the military more effective, efficient and professional.

"The whole military organization has to be gradually
restructured to make it a more effective and efficient
institution amid the prolonged economic crisis," he said.

He said the validation program in TNI Headquarters was still
underway, while similar programs in the Army, Navy and Air Force
would begin in 2002 and would be implemented fully by 2004.

Graito said a revised defense bill, which will be submitted to
the House of Representatives soon, proposed the military no
longer be under the supervision of the Ministry of Defense in
order to ensure its neutrality.

"But the decision will completely rest with the House, which
will deliberate the bill," he said.

Meanwhile, President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President
Megawati Soekarnoputri met with Widodo on Thursday, amid growing
speculation of a massive shake-up in TNI.

Megawati received Widodo at her official residence on Jl.
Diponegoro in Central Jakarta on Thursday morning, while
Abdurrahman met with the TNI chief at Merdeka Palace later in the
afternoon.

"This is only a routine meeting. I reported to the Vice
President about the problems of security and refugees," said the
admiral after meeting with Megawati.

During the meeting, Megawati was accompanied by Presidential
Military Secretary Rear Marshal Budhy Santoso.

Widodo just smiled when asked about his possible replacement
as TNI commander. "I haven't heard anything about it."

Widodo will accompany Megawati during her two-day visit to
Atambua, West Timor, on Saturday and Sunday to inspect East
Timorese refugee camps there.

Budhy said the meeting between the Vice President and the
admiral dealt solely with technical matters, particularly
preparations for the commemoration of TNI's 55th anniversary on
Oct. 5.

The Vice President will preside over the anniversary ceremony
due to the President's impaired vision, Budhy said.

He said there were technical matters to be resolved prior to
the ceremony, including the Vice President's dress for leading an
official military ceremony.

"For instance, whether the Vice President will wear a hat or
not," Budhy remarked.

Later in the afternoon, the President was accompanied by
Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak while receiving Widodo.

Widodo looked relaxed when asked about Wednesday's dismissal
of Gen. Fachrul Razi. "It's merely part of our restructuring
program."

Separately, Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid warned the
President on Thursday not to continue pushing TNI into a corner,
because the military was still a very strong institution despite
its current problems.

The President must be more careful with his steps to reform
the military, otherwise the moves will backfire on him,
Nurcholish said.

"I'm afraid if the President continues to corner the military,
because they have arms," Nurcholish was quoted as saying by
Antara news agency on the sidelines of a seminar in Surabaya.
(rms/byg/prb)