Prabowo to accept new post in ceremony today

Prabowo to accept new post in ceremony today

JAKARTA (JP): Rife speculation about the sudden replacement of
Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto as head of the Army's Strategic
Reserves Command (Kostrad) was fanned further yesterday by news
the handover ceremony for Prabowo's new post, heading the Armed
Forces Staff and Command College, would be held here this morning
instead of Bandung, West Java, where the college is located.

No immediate reason was given on the break with tradition.
Prabowo will replace Lt. Gen. Arie Kumaat to Prabowo in the
ceremony at the Armed Forces headquarters in Cilangkap, East
Jakarta.

Arie confirmed the change in venue but gave no further
explanation.

"According to plan, it will be held tomorrow, Thursday," he
said as quoted by Antara.

Minister of Defense and Security Affairs/Armed Forces
Commander Gen. Wiranto himself will oversee the ceremony.

Prabowo, who is Soeharto's son-in-law, was abruptly replaced
as commander of the prestigious force on Friday, just one day
after Soeharto resigned from the presidency.

Prabowo's replacement was held in a closed ceremony barred to
the press. Prabowo only headed Kostrad for two months.

In a strange twist of events, the new commander of Kostrad
Maj. Gen. Johnny Lumintang, held the post for just 18 hours
before he in turn was replaced by Maj. Gen. Djamari Chaniago.

Wiranto has already denied adverse rumors about Prabowo's
sudden removal, saying his reassignment was a normal "tour of
duty" and that the transfer had long been planned. (mds)