SBY to nominate new TNI chief soon

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

After securing endorsement for the appointment of Comr. Gen. Sutanto as National Police chief, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will seek approval for his nomination of a new Indonesian Military (TNI) chief in August.

State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra said on Tuesday the President would propose a single candidate, to be selected from the chiefs of staff of the three armed forces. Former Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacuda will also be considered in accordance with the new TNI law, which considers him an active member of the armed forces.

The law extended the retirement age of military leaders who had not turned 55 before the law's enactment by up to three years.

The House will go into recess on Saturday, sitting again in mid-August.

Army chief Gen. Djoko Santoso, Navy chief Adm. Slamet Soebijanto and Air Force chief Marshal Djoko Suyanto stand an equal chance of replacing TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 55 in 2003.

Chairman of Commission I for defense Theo L. Sambuaga said it was the President's prerogative to name the candidate.

The amended Constitution says a TNI chief candidate must undergo screening by the House before being installed by the President.

"We're still waiting for a name," said Theo, whose commission recently held three consecutive hearings with all three chiefs of staff.

Commission member Djoko Susilo said the President was unlikely to appoint Ryamizard as he would soon retire, although the President had the right to extend his service.

"But I think the President has probably excluded Ryamizard from the contest because the President is yet to submit any names, and Ryamizard is going to be eligible for a pension in the near future," Djoko said.

Former president Megawati Soekarnopurtri nominated Ryamizard for TNI chief days before her term ended in October last year. Her successor Susilo then retracted the notification letter on the appointment.

Also on Tuesday, House Speaker Agung Laksono submitted a notification letter on the legislative body's approval of Sutanto's appointment to Yusril, immediately after the endorsement was made official during a plenary session.

"Pak Agung just gave me the notification letter and I will forward it to the President, who will immediately install the new police chief," said Yusril after a meeting with Agung at the House.

Sutanto, who graduated from the military academy in 1973 at the top of the class alongside Susilo, will replace Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, who has been in office since 2001.

Chairman of House Commission III for legal and security affairs Agustin Teras Narang told the meeting that the commission had unanimously approved the appointment of Sutanto, currently the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) chief.

Sutanto underwent seven hours of screening by Commission III members on Monday.

During the test, Sutanto said he would use all available resources to reduce the crime rate, and improve police officers' service to the public.