Reshuffle not House's concern: TNI chief

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said on Wednesday that any decision on the reshuffling of the military leadership rested solely with the President.

The statement was apparently aimed at a number of lawmakers from the House of Representatives' defense commission who recently launched a campaign to pressure President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono into immediately proposing a replacement for Endriartono to the House.

Some lawmakers have gone so far as to urge Susilo to nominate Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, who had earlier been nominated by Megawati for the top military post during the dying days of her administration.

"This matter definitely comes within the sole prerogative of the President," Endriartono said, adding that according to the country's Defense Law the House's role was primarily to approve or reject the President's nominee, and that the House had no right to propose its own nominee for the post of TNI chief.

Susilo met with Endriartono late on Tuesday, but, according to officials present at the meeting, the two only discussed the gradual withdrawal of foreign troops from Aceh as the situation there returned to some semblance of normality.

They said that a reshuffle of the TNI leadership had not been discussed as the President had not yet made up his mind as to whom he wanted to replace Endriartono and when the reshuffle would take place.

Megawati sent a letter to the House in October last year -- only weeks before she came to the end of her term -- nominating Ryacudu to replace Endriartono, who had earlier tendered his resignation.

But upon taking office, Susilo sent a letter to the House revoking Megawati's earlier letter and maintaining Endriartono in his post. He argued at the time that Endriartono was still needed to ensure "consolidation" within the TNI.

Susilo promised that the reshuffle of the TNI leadership would be completed by the end of his first 100 days in office, which falls on Jan. 28, 2005.

Earlier this week, lawmakers from the defense commission held a meeting in which they resolved that it was high time for Susilo to propose a replacement for Endriartono.