President discharges Fachrul

President discharges Fachrul

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid discharged
Indonesian Military (TNI) deputy chief Gen. Fachrul Razi on
Wednesday and left the position vacant as part of a military
restructuring program, his senior aide announced on Wednesday.

Presidential Military Secretary Rear Marshal Budhy Santoso
said Abdurrahman had personally given the decree, dated
Wednesday, to Fachrul during a meeting at Merdeka Palace on
Wednesday morning.

"The reason for the decision is simply to revamp the structure
of the TNI to boost its efficiency," Budhy said in a media
conference attended by Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak at
Bina Graha presidential office.

It is rare for the military secretary to announce a major
decision on military affairs. On Tuesday night, Budhy also
accompanied Abdurrahman in receiving TNI chief Admiral Widodo
A.S. and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto.

The announcement was made almost at the same time as
Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs
Lt. Gen. (ret.) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was attending a meeting
at UN Headquarters in New York.

During the meeting, Susilo assured the UN Security Council
that Indonesia was serious in bringing to justice those
responsible for the killing of three international relief workers
in Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara, early this month.

Fachrul's dismissal was announced five days after Abdurrahman
said he would take several major decisions within one or two
days.

On Monday, he sacked National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo
and promoted Rusdihardjo's deputy, Comr. Gen. Bimantoro to the
position.

"Gen. Fachrul Razi was discharged with honor," Budhy said,
adding that he did not know what Fachrul's new position would be.

Then TNI chief Gen. Wiranto endorsed Fachrul's promotion less
than two weeks before Abdurrahman became president last October.

Fachrul, who graduated from the National Military Academy in
1970, replaced Widodo early in November. Widodo later took over
Wiranto's position.

Fachrul, a native of Aceh, was promoted to a four star general
on Nov. 20, 1999.

After Wednesday's announcement, rumors were rife of more
dismissals.

The focus is now on the fate of Adm. Widodo and Gen. Tyasno.

Sources close to Abdurrahman said he had told Widodo and
Tyasno that he planned to announce an extensive tour of duty at
the top of the military because he was not satisfied with the two
officers' leadership of it.

"Before presiding over the ceremony to commemorate TNI's 55th
anniversary on Oct. 5, the President wants to show that the
military is fully under his control," said the source.

Meanwhile, the President visited Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri at her official residence on Jl. Diponegoro in
Central Jakarta on Wednesday afternoon.

An official at Megawati's residence said that according to
information he had received Lt. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah, who
used to be Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) chief, was
also scheduled to attend the meeting.

However, it is unclear whether Agus has returned from a visit
to the United States. Agus lost his position as Kostrad chief in
late July, just three months after his promotion to the post.

"Agus's future is still very bright," said one of
Abdurrahman's advisors.

Both Abdurrahman and Megawati chose not to talk after the
meeting. Megawati just waved to the journalists waiting outside
her house.

Widodo is scheduled to report to Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri on Thursday morning. (prb/byg)