Observers say TNI reshuffle politically motivated

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)