Screening of Endriartono open to the public

Screening of Endriartono open to the public

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The public's assessment of the personality and track record of
military chief candidate Gen. Endriartono Sutarto will be
answered as the House of Representatives (DPR) decided on Tuesday
that the fit and proper test for the general will be opened to
members of the public.

Chairman of Commission I for defense affairs Ibrahim Ambong,
disclosed that 15 of the 28 legislators attending an internal
meeting voted for an open-door session, during which Endriartono,
currently the Army's Chief of Staff, would present his views.

The decision apparently satisfied the press and displayed a
gesture of good will from legislators on the issue of
transparency. A similar session into police chief candidate Dai
Bachtiar in November last year was closed to the public and the
House became a target of criticism.

Legislators who rejected the initiative to make the assessment
open to the public were from the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Military/Police, Crescent Star Party
(PBB) and People's Sovereign Party (PDU) factions.

Ishak Latuconsina of the military/police faction defended his
stance, saying his intention to close public access to the
hearing was aimed at preventing public judgment over the
performance of Endriartono.

"The authority to pass judgment should be in the hands of the
legislators," he said.

The House hearing on Wednesday -- scheduled to be a "fit and
proper test" -- is scheduled to commence at 9 a.m. and finish at
1 p.m.

During the session, Endriartono is expected to present his
views on the restructuring of the military, human rights and his
commitment to the reform movement.

According to Ambong, legislators would have a broad
opportunity to question the military chief candidate.

"We have agreed not to bring personal matters to the forum,"
he said, without elaborating.

He added that after finishing the assessment session,
legislators would organize a closed-door meeting to outline final
opinion to be brought to a House plenary meeting.

Separately, a group of non-governmental organizations staged a
demonstration outside the House compound, questioning the choice
of Endriartono.

The activists said the sole candidacy of Endriartono by
President Megawati Soekarnoputri had affected regeneration
efforts within the military.

Endriartono reached the mandatory retirement age of 55 on
April 29, but this has been extended for a further five years.

In a joint statement, the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation
(YLBHI), the Institute for the Study and Advocacy of the People
(Elsam), and the Commission on Missing Persons and Victims of
Violence (Kontras) raised speculation that the nomination was a
conspiracy.

According to them, Endriartono was a figure close to the New
Order regime.

"In the 1998 political crisis, Endriartono was commander of
the presidential guards. It was only normal if his appointment
indicated the revival of the New Order regime," said Munarman of
YLBHI.

Born in the Central Java town of Purworejo on April 29, 1947
Endriartono graduated from the Military Academy in 1971, and
occupied a strategic position at the Indonesian Military (TNI)
Headquarters in 1998. He became Army deputy chief on March 8,
2000, before being appointed to his current job on Oct. 9, 2000.