TNI replaces Aceh commander
TNI replaces Aceh commander
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian Military (TNI) unexpectedly announced the
replacement of the Aceh provincial military commander Maj. Gen.
Djali Yusuf, a few days before the May 12 deadline of the
government's ultimatum to the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and
possible commencement of a military operation to quell the
separatists.
Djali, a native of Pidie, Aceh, will relinquish the post he
has held since March 2002 to his immediate subordinate, Brig.
Gen. Endang Suwarya.
Disclosing the reason behind the replacement, TNI Chief Gen.
Endriartono Sutarto said Djali would soon reach retirement age.
The retirement age of TNI officers ranked brigadier general and
above is set at 55.
"We won't retain him, because his impending retirement will
disrupt the continuity of the planned military operation in
Aceh," Endriartono said after a Cabinet meeting.
Djali, a 1972 graduate of the Military Academy, is the first
commander of the Aceh military command, which was reinstated last
year due to increasing violence.
His successor Endang is a 1973 graduate and a classmate of
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono. Endang is also a former Teuku Umar Military
resort commander, and was stationed in Banda Aceh before being
appointed deputy operational assistant to the Army Chief of Staff
last year.
Endriartono, who had his retirement age extended by the
President last year, dismissed speculations that the change of
guard in the Aceh military replacement involved political
interests.
"We TNI are always well-prepared for any policies regarding
our duties in Aceh, including replacing our commanders," he said.
According to Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Ratyono, the official
transfer of duty from Djali to Endang would be made on Tuesday
next week.
Many had believed that, as Djali is Acehnese, he would be
entrusted to lead the military-police joint operation.
Djali was previously involved in a series of military
operations in the province and once served as deputy chief of
security operations in Aceh in 2001, the first deployment of
troops in the province since the fall of Soeharto's New Order
regime in 1998.
The government is expected to declare the commencement of the
operation, if GAM fails to accept the special autonomy and lay
down its arms before May 12 -- a condition for the continuation
of peace talks.
The military plans to enter Aceh on May 15 to restore order,
an operation that may last six months.
Currently, 4,000 reinforcement troops have already been sent
to the resource-rich province, including 2,000 officers from the
joint military-police quick reaction strike force (PPRC).