TNI reshuffles deck, hopes for winning hand
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian Military (TNI) Headquarters announced on Wednesday a major reshuffle involving a number of high-ranking officers.
The rotation -- officially signed in Decree No. 509/2001 by TNI Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. on Oct. 2, 2001 -- involved three- star generals as the highest officers being replaced. Most of them have reached retirement age.
"This is a routine tour of duty," Widodo said on the sidelines of a rehearsal for TNI's 56th anniversary which falls on Oct. 5 at Halim Perdanakusumah airport in East Jakarta.
Widodo said that the restructuring process within the military was under way, including the military's roles in territorial affairs.
The reshuffle involves 25 officers at the TNI Headquarters, 18 Army officers, 17 from the Air Force and 28 others in the Navy.
Among the most senior officers being replaced is outgoing chief of the TNI Education and Training Center Lt. Gen. Amir Sembiring, a 1970 graduate of the Armed Forces Academy (AKABRI), who will be posted at TNI Headquarters. Amir's post will be filled by Maj. Gen. Syahrir M.S., who is currently the Operational Assistant to the Army chief. Syahrir, a 1971 graduate of AKABRI, was once the commander of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus).
The commander of Division I of the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) Maj. Gen. Harry Kosasih will replace Syahrir. While Brig. Gen. Syamsul Mappareppa, a 1973 graduate of AKABRI, will fill the post of Harry -- a 1971 graduate of AKABRI.
Controversial Brawijaya Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi will be replaced by Maj. Gen. Ahmad Djunaidi Sikki, a former Kostrad division commander. Like Amir, Sudi, 1972 AKABRI graduate, will be posted to TNI Headquarters.
He, however, is prepared to fill in one of the secretary posts at the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs.
Sudi was one of the generals accused by former president Abdurrahman Wahid of masterminding a movement against him.
An incident in the East Java town of Madiun -- in which three people were killed and 20 others were injured when a group of Kostrad soldiers went on the rampage last month and attacked a police compound after a petty dispute -- also took place during Sudi's tenure.
Meanwhile, Aceh's Security and Order Operation Commander Brig. Gen. Zamroni, who graduate from AKABRI in 1974, has been promoted to the post of the Bukit Barisan Military Command's chief of staff.
The reshuffle also includes strategic positions within the Military Strategic Intelligence Body (BAIS). Director BAIS A for political affairs Brig. Gen. Eddy Irmanto is being promoted as deputy chief of BAIS, while his last post will be filled by Brig. Gen. Dadi Sutanto. Brig. Gen. Benjamin Leonard P. will also be promoted as director of Bais D.