Prabowo to become major general soon
Prabowo to become major general soon
JAKARTA (JP): Brig. Gen. Prabowo Subianto, the commander of
the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus), will soon be promoted to
Major-General.
Prabowo's promotion is a consequence of the reorganization of
the elite red-beret force and of the Strategic Reserve Command
(Kostrad).
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raden Hartono said on Thursday that
the reorganization of the two Army units would be conducted in
the near future.
He was speaking to reporters after swearing in Lt. Gen.
Wiranto as Kostrad's new chief to replace Lt.-Gen. Tarub at the
Army's Airborne Brigade Headquarters in Cijantung, South Jakarta.
"The reorganization is an adjustment to current conditions.
Situations change over time," he said.
Prabowo, 44, the third son of noted economist Dr. Sumitro
Djojohadikusumo is also President Soeharto's son-in-law.
Hartono also said Kostrad's two divisions would be enlarged
and led by two-star officers.
"This means that Brig. Gen. Ismed Yusaeri, the current
commandant of Kostrad's Division I command will be promoted to
major general and Brig. Gen. Djamari Chaniago, commandant of
Kostrad's Division II command is to be promoted to the two-star
rank," he said.
Decision
President Soeharto, in his capacity of the Armed Forces's
supreme commander, recently made a decision to revamp Kostrad and
Kopassus, and reserve the number one position in Kostrad for a
military official of lieutenant general rank.
Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung has called the
reorganization of Kostrad "natural", adding that this also
happened in the United States and other countries.
Wiranto, former Jakarta military chief, was promoted to
lieutenant general two weeks ago. Tarub is waiting for his new
post as ambassador.
Kostrad's 27,000 personnel are divided into two divisions. One
stationed here in Cilodong, and the other in Malang, East Java.
The force is better-equipped, better-trained and better-prepared
for duties in far-flung regions than the regulars. (rms)