Observers say TNI reshuffle politically motivated
JAKARTA (JP): Observers said on Friday that the latest Indonesian Military (TNI) reshuffle was politically motivated to purge hardline elements from the institution.
Political observer J. Kristiadi contradicted the official line that the shakeup was purely for professional reasons.
Kristiadi claimed it evident that the reshuffle was aimed at cutting out a clique linked to certain top brass.
He said by removing officers loyal to certain top military officers the influence of the top brass in question was expunged without directly challenging their power in a confrontational manner.
He said the latest move would probably make the military more solid and reduce frictions with TNI chief Adm. Widodo A.S.
"For example, in the group centered round (Army chief) Gen. Tyasno Sudarto and (Army Strategic Reserve Command chief) Lt. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah, (the territorial assistant to the Army chief of staff affairs) Maj. Gen. Saurip Kadi was sacrificed." Kristiadi said.
"There was no professionalism at all in this reshuffle. It is pathetic that everything was conducted to cut out the clique of hardline officers," Kristiadi told The Jakarta Post.
He said that to build a strong and solid military in the future practices like this must be avoided as they created more opposing groups inside TNI.
"The TNI in the future should only conduct shakeups for professional reasons and not follow the interests of the center of power," Kristiadi remarked.
Another military observer at the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University, Pratikno, said that the reshuffle within TNI would eventually show the actual strength of the military's position in the country's political domain.
"TNI may be get stronger or even weaker if it turns out it replaced the wrong man (in this reshuffle).
"But it is clear that one of the indications of TNI's stronger position is the replacement of Bondan Gunawan. He (Bondan) has always fought for civilian supremacy," Pratikno said.
He also said that President Abdurrahman Wahid seemed to be being increasingly abandoned by his political allies and this made it necessary for him to consolidate alliances with the TNI.
"Amien Rais has been putting distance between him and Abdurrahman. Megawati too. So he is left all alone and thus he is looking harder to the TNI," he added.
Meanwhile, two top officers affected by the shakeup stated their readiness to take up their new posts, saying that as soldiers they would never reject a tour of duty.
Pattimura Military Commander overseeing Maluku Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela seemed glad to be leaving his command, saying he was ready to be placed anywhere.
"As a soldier I'm ready to be given any assignment that matches my ability. To be frank, I feel relieved with this new task," Tamaela said by telephone on Friday.
The general also said that handling Maluku was one of the toughest jobs he had ever had to face.
"I've done the best I can and I really hope that Maluku can be normal again. The people have suffered too much. Let this (violence) end."
Tamaela has often complained about his job, pointing to a lack of support from other military commanders and authorities in stopping rioters from entering the strife-torn islands.
In Bandung, Siliwangi Military Commander Maj. Gen. Slamet Supriyadi told journalists he knew nothing about his replacement.
"I know it from journalists. But a reshuffle is a normal thing and I am ready to follow," he said after a ceremony to send West Java athletes to the National Games (PON). (25/49/swa/edt/dja)