President picks close aide as BIN chief

President picks close aide as BIN chief

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja
The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has appointed a close aide
and former military intelligence chief, Maj. Gen. (ret) Syamsir
Siregar, as the director of the powerful National Intelligence
Agency (BIN), replacing Hendropriyono.

Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi said on Tuesday that the President
signed the presidential decree on Syamsir's appointment to the
post on Nov. 29 and will swear in him at the State Palace on
Wednesday.

But, unlike previous BIN chiefs, Syamsir will not be a member
of the Cabinet. His post will be on a par with those of the
directors of state auxiliary bodies like the National Resilience
Institute (Lemhannas) or the National Family Planning Board
(BKKBN).

"It has been confirmed that the President has appointed
Syamsir Siregar, and his inauguration will be on Wednesday," Sudi
said.

Presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said the President
had taken into account Syamsir's professionalism before naming
him to the post.

"Syamsir's professionalism is unquestioned. He is the right
person to lead BIN, and the President trusts him," Andi said.

Deputy Cabinet Secretary Erman Radjagukguk said that under the
new presidential decree, the BIN directorship was lower than a
ministerial post.

"Unlike in previous administrations, the BIN chief will now be
an official who heads a non-departmental state agency. He will
not be of equal rank as a minister or other Cabinet members,"
Erman told The Jakarta Post.

Hendropriyono resigned as the BIN chief after former president
Megawati Soekarnoputri left office on Oct. 20.

Syamsir capped his military career as chief of the Indonesian
Armed Forces Intelligence body (BIA). His retirement, a month
before he reached the mandatory retirement age in September 1996,
gave rise to speculation that he was removed by the TNI
leadership for opposing the takeover of the Indonesian Democratic
Party's headquarters in July 1996. The takeover ended up in
bloodshed. The investigation into the case has been reactivated
by the Attorney General's Office.

After retiring, Syamsir joined the National Front (Barnas),
whose membership was made up of retired military officers
critical of former president Soeharto.

Recently, Syamsir joined M. Ma'ruf, who was also dismissed for
challenging the July 1996 operation, on Susilo's strategy team
during the presidential election campaign. Maruf was eventually
named the home minister.

The BIN chief reports directly to the President and coordinates
the activities of other intelligence agencies affiliated to the
TNI, police and Attorney General's Office.

Commenting on Syamsir's appointment, TNI chief Gen.
Endriartono Sutarto said that Syamsir was the perfect choice for
the job, citing his previous experience in the Army.