Susilo promises to submit name for top TNI post soon

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.