Susilo promises to submit name for top TNI post soon
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
After months of uncertainty over leadership succession within the Indonesian Military (TNI), President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has indicated the wait could soon be over.
He said on Friday that he would soon submit a candidate for the top post at the TNI to the House of Representatives for approval.
Susilo is expected to make the move to replace TNI Commander in Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, who is now at retiring age, after the House ends its recess session in mid-January.
"I have told the House that I will submit one candidate for TNI commander to the House for approval in the next assembly session. Based on the law, the House is only authorized to approve (the President's candidate) not to select," said Susilo at a joint press conference with House speaker Agung Laksono.
Susilo met Agung in an informal meeting at the Presidential Palace to discuss several issues including the succession process in the military.
"President Susilo has replied to our letter seeking clarification over the TNI commander's successor. Susilo agreed to immediately submit a name for approval after the recess session of the legislators on Jan. 12," said Agung.
The government has several times delayed replacing Endriartono, despite repeated calls from the House to speed up the process.
Susilo said the decision to maintain Endriartono in the top TNI post at least until the end of 2005 was because he was still considered the right man to handle the gradual withdrawal of reinforcement soldiers from Aceh as part of a peace deal between the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
The decommissioning of GAM weapons and the pullout of military troops from Aceh are expected to be concluded on Dec. 31.
"Endriartono's strength and mind are still necessary for the settlement of the Aceh conflict in a comprehensive, fair, peaceful and honorable manner. That is why we have decided to maintain him for a while," said Susilo.
Endriartono, 58 , has been in the military's top post since November 2003. He tendered his resignation in October last year, citing the TNI's regeneration process as his reason.
Susilo refused to hint at the name of the candidate. He only said the candidate would be chosen from the current four senior military officers.
Currently, the eligible candidates to replace Endriartono are former Army chief of staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacuddu, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Djoko Santoso, Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Slamet Subiyanto and Air Force Chief of Staff Marshall Djoko Suyanto.
Sources close to Susilo, however, said the strongest candidate to replace Endriartono was Marshall Suyanto, as based on the TNI law, the position of TNI chief should be held in turn by the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.
So far only candidates from the Army and the Navy have enjoyed the top TNI post, while an Air Force figure has never led the TNI.
Another reason for appointing Suyanto is that Susilo wanted the ongoing reform program within the Army to be carried out by Santoso, who is expected to reduce the influence of Ryamizard in trying to maintain status quo in the military and halt the reform agenda.
Days before leaving the presidential office, then president Megawati Soekarnoputri proposed to the House that Ryamizard be approved as Endriartono's successor. However, Susilo withdrew Megawati's letter to the legislature, retaining Endriartono as the TNI chief.