Reshuffle not House's concern: TNI chief

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.