The House wants Megawati to name new military chief
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The House of Representatives (DPR) urged President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Friday to immediately name a new military chief for the sake of regeneration within the institution.
Ibrahim Ambong, chairman of House of Representatives Commission I on political, security and foreign affairs, said that Megawati's reluctance to replace the current military chiefs, including the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Adm. Widodo AS, might affect the institution severely "as many potential younger generals failed to hold strategic positions."
"Megawati must bear in mind that if she continues to delay proposing names for the new TNI chief, she hampers regeneration within the institution as some military chiefs have long passed their retirement age, while younger generals like (former Army Chief of Staff) Gen. Tyasno (Sudarto) has to await for a better position," said Ibrahim, a legislator from the Golkar Party.
As the TNI Council for Promotion and Rank (Wanjakti) started its session early this week, speculation has rife that the military would reshuffle its high-ranking officers, to include the replacement of Widodo.
Four names have been floated as possible candidates to replace Widodo. Besides Tyasno, other strong candidates are Air Force chief Marshall Hanafie Asnan, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, and the Navy Chief Adm. Indroko Sastrowiryono.
By law, the president must appoint one of the three chiefs of staff or former chiefs of staff and must secure the approval of the House in replacing and appointing the TNI chief.
In November last year, Megawati reportedly informed the House that she planned to replace Widodo as TNI chief. At the time, rumors were rife that Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago, the TNI chief of general affairs, appeared to have strong support from Megawati and her own Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), which considered that the military needed to be led by a younger officer.
The speculation, however, ended following "a commitment" of the three services to support Widodo's leadership for the sake of TNI's unity.
A source at the Ministry of Defense told The Jakarta Post on Friday that Megawati had to consider the incumbent three chiefs of staff, as well as Tyasno, to replace Widodo to avoid controversy over the reshuffle.
"If Megawati insists on appointing Djamari as TNI chief, she must replace Endriartono first to pave the way for him (Djamari) for the position," he said.