Regent political appointment, not a career: Feisal

JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung said yesterday the appointment of regents had nothing to do with military rank.

"We will not automatically relate the political position (of regents) with rank," Feisal told reporters shortly before a cabinet meeting at the Bina Graha presidential office.

"We will seek the best people for political positions. This has nothing to do with rank," Feisal said.

It would not be necessary to appoint brigadier generals to hold the posts of regents, said Feisal.

He made the remark in reply to suggestion made by State Minister of Administrative Reforms TB Silalahi that regents of certain areas, if they were from the military, must be brigadier generals or those of higher ranks.

A high-ranking military officer is well educated, qualified and experienced, Silalahi argued.

He said at the same occasion yesterday the appointment of high-ranking military officers as regents would help implement the government's policy on regional autonomy.

Law No.5/1974 on regional autonomy gives regents the power to manage their territories. However, most regencies are not able to exercise this power and they still depend much on provincial administration mainly because of financial problems.

If the law is fully implemented, a regent will supervise heads of agencies of high echelon. So it would be necessary for the regent to be high ranking, said Silalahi, himself a retired Army major general.

Asked if he had discussed his idea with the other departments, he said: "It is the Minister of Administrative Reforms who decides the echelon. The rank is adjusted with the echelon. This is our requirement to the Armed Forces (ABRI) headquarters."

"If ABRI headquarters says no and considers a colonel lieutenant sufficient, it's all up to them..." Silalahi said.

Criticism

Silalahi's suggestion has drawn criticism from the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) which pointed out the regent is elected by the local legislative assembly and therefore anyone should be allowed to run for the regent seat, irrespective of his or her background, in the military or otherwise.

In practice, many regent appointments have gone to military figures.

Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie SM shared Feisal's view that it was not necessary to relate the position of a regent, and even a governor, with the rank in the military.

"If a region needs ABRI to hold a certain position, that will be fine. I will just ask the Pangab (ABRI commander). Who will be appointed depends on him. That's the rule (of the game)," he said.

He said it would not be a problem if a regent's subordinates had higher ranks.

He underlined that not only ABRI members, but any Indonesian citizen who is qualified can become a regent.(sim)