Susilo delays naming new military commander

Susilo delays naming new military commander

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The powerful Indonesia Military (TNI) will not get a new chief in
the near future as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono needs more
time to choose one of the four candidates, a senior presidential
aide says.

Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi said Susilo would only appoint
the next TNI commander after assessing the performance of the
three new military chiefs of staff, who were sworn in by the
President earlier on Friday.

They were Lt. Gen. Djoko Santoso, who was installed as the new
Army chief of staff; Vice Adm. Slamet Soebijanto, the Navy chief;
and new Air Force head Vice Marshal Djoko Soeyanto.

One of these men is tipped to take over the TNI leadership
from Gen. Endriartono Sutarto who has tendered his resignation.

Another possible candidate is Santoso's predecessor, Gen.
Ryamizard Ryacudu, who is close to former president Megawati
Soekarnoputri. Santoso, meanwhile, is a known Susilo ally.

"The three (Santoso, Slamet and Soeyanto) have yet to show how
they perform as new chiefs of staff. It will take time to
determine which of the four candidates is the most eligible,"
Sudi said after the inauguration ceremony at the Presidential
Palace in Jakarta.

Under the TNI's internal regulations, a new chief of staff can
only be promoted after at least three months in office.

Sudi said the appointment of the next military commander would
be made in accordance with prevailing regulations.

One convention rarely adhered to in recent years suggests that
the military chiefs of staff should take turns leading the TNI.
If Susilo followed this rule, it would mean Soeyanto would later
be appointed for the top post because it has already been held by
the heads of the Army and Navy.

However, when asked if the President would name a new TNI
commander from the Air Force, Sudi was giving nothing away: "It
is possible. We'll (make our appointment) within the legal
channels," he said.

Santoso, who some observers see as the strongest candidate to
replace Endriartono Sutarto, refused to comment on his
nomination, saying for the meantime he would concentrate on
improving the Army's professionalism.

"I plan to focus on the development of human resources in the
Army," he said after being sworn in. Santoso added he hoped to
create a "solid" institution that was "loved by the people".

Separately, his predecessor, Ryamizard said he had not yet
thought about taking the top post.

"It's up to my superiors. I have not retired yet. Pak Tarto
(Endriartono), who is 60, has yet to retire either. Don't ask me
what I will do after this. I don't know," he said.

Ryamizard, 55, expressed his pleasure over the promotion of
Susanto, his former deputy in the Army, whom he said he had
groomed for the role.

"I am glad that he was appointed. Don't you say that I don't
like it" Ryamizard, who is now a senior official in TNI
headquarters, said jokingly.

Endriartono, who handed in his resignation for the second time
on Feb. 7, stressed that the turnover in leadership was necessary
and mandatory.

After his first resignation last year, outgoing president
Megawati proposed that the House of Representatives approve
Ryamizard as the new TNI commander.

Susilo, however, scrapped the nomination and retained
Endriartono, despite the House pressuring him to immediately name
a new military chief.