Ryamizard, Djamari strong candidates to hold Army chief of staff post
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Following reshuffles in the chief of staff posts of the Indonesian Navy and Air Force, President Megawati Soekarnoputri will soon decide another reshuffle in the Army as well.
Incumbent Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said on Thursday that the Indonesian Military (TNI) had submitted the names of two candidates for the post and awaited a decision from the President.
"The TNI has submitted two names and one will be the more suitable. Whoever is chosen will be the best choice," Endriartono said on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of the new Navy and Air Force chiefs of staff at the State Palace.
Reports circulating at the palace said the two candidates for the Army chief of staff were incumbent Commander of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu and incumbent Chief of Staff for General Affairs Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago.
The TNI has started filling key posts and is expected to end the process with the appointment of the new TNI chief, to replace Adm. Widodo A.S.
When asked about his replacement, Widodo said on Thursday that it rested with the President to determine when the reshuffle would take place and who would be chosen, as the TNI had already proposed its candidates for the important post.
It was reported earlier that Endriartono himself was the strongest candidate to fill Widodo's shoes, especially after his service period was prolonged to 2007 as he had reached the mandatory retirement age this month.
It is likely that Megawati will wait for input from the House of Representatives, which will start its next sitting on May 13. In line with the Constitution, the President has asked for approval from the House for the TNI chief's appointment.
Newly installed Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Bernard Kent Sondakh and Air Force Chief of Staff Marshall Chappy Hakim were inaugurated on Thursday by the President in a modest ceremony at the State Palace.
Attended by most ministers, Megawati did not make a speech in the 30-minute ceremony and left the venue immediately as she had to lead a Cabinet meeting.
The two new chiefs of staff also refused to make any statement to the media, saying that they would wait until the handover ceremony, scheduled on Friday, before saying anything in public.
The appointment of the two officials to such strategic positions has raised questions, as the two are nearing retirement age and were not high-profile officials.
In reply to the skepticism that has been voiced by many, Widodo underlined that there were many factors that had been taken into consideration by the President when appointing officials to such important posts.
"Of course there are considerations other than just age when deciding which officials to be appointed to such strategic and important posts," Widodo said after the ceremony.