Ryamizard flaunts achievements
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In an apparent attempt to lobby for the job as new Indonesian Military (TNI) commander, outgoing Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu invited retired and active Army officers for a gathering on Thursday to brief them on his "achievements" while leading the Army.
Wearing a camouflage uniform, Ryamizard insisted that the meeting was not called to talk about the planned replacement of the TNI chief.
"I've invited my senior colleagues (retired generals) to the gathering because I want to provide them with a progress report over what I have done while serving as the Army Chief. I guess we all need to maintain the relationship with our elders.
"It should not be seen that I'm making an effort to look for support," Ryamizard told journalists prior to the closed-door meeting.
The gathering took place a day before Ryamizard is officially set to pass on the Army's command baton to his successor Lt. Gen. Djoko Santoso on Friday, who was also in attendance.
"Only God and the President know who the best candidate is to lead the TNI. I don't want to get involved in speculation as to who will get the top job. I've closed the newspaper and stopped reading them. I've turned off the television. I don't need to watch news about that (the TNI reshuffle). If only I could play the guitar, then I would just get into the music," Ryamizard explained.
The attendees included former TNI commander Gen. (ret.) Wiranto, former minister of defense and security Gen. (ret.) Edi Sudrajat, former Army chief of staff Gen. (ret) Soebagyo H.S. and former coordinating minister for political and security affairs Gen. (ret.) Hari Sabarno.
Like Ryamizard, all other active high-ranking officers were there, such as Brawijaya military commander Maj. Gen. Ahmad Djunaidi Sikki and Bukit Barisan military commander Maj. Gen. Tritamtomo, dressed in camouflage.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's brother-in-law Maj. Gen. Erwin Sudjono also showed up. He is currently serving as the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) chief of the first division based in Cilodong, West Java.
Ryamizard is one of four eligible candidates to replace TNI commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, who is set to retire soon.
The three other nominees are Djoko Santoso, Navy Chief of Staff Vice Adm. Slamet Soebijanto and Air Force Chief Vice Marshall Djoko Soeyanto.
Under Law No. 34/2004 on the military, the President can only pick active senior officers who have held the post of chief of staff to be eligible as TNI commander.
Speculation has been rife that Susilo, a retired four-star Army general, will likely appoint Djoko Santoso as new TNI chief due to his reportedly close relationship with the President.
Pundits say the chances of Ryamizard getting promoted are slim as he will reach retirement age -- 55 -- in April this year. His closeness with former president Megawati Soekarnoputri may be another reason that some said have soured on his candidacy.
Nonetheless, the Air Force has urged the President to consider an Air Force officer as the next TNI commander in chief, saying the rotation among the three forces in leading the military would promote equality, justice and respect among the three branches.