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.