TNI top job, a strategic post sets politicians bickering

Imanuddin Razak, The Jakarta Post

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's request to annul his predecessor's request for lawmakers to discuss the replacement of the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief, which was announced during a plenary meeting of the House of Representatives last Wednesday, was a controversial move by the new president.

It is controversial because logically it is TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto himself who should withdraw his letter of resignation, which was tendered to then president Megawati Soekarnoputri on Sept. 24, 2004.

Megawati appointed Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu as acting TNI chief and at the same time sent a letter endorsing Endriartono's resignation to the House for its approval a few days before her tenure ended on Oct. 20, but the House could not respond to it as the commission mandated to discuss it had not yet been formed.

The Constitution requires the president to seek the approval of the House in the selection of the TNI and National Police chief.

Meanwhile, Susilo said his request for the withdrawal of Megawati's letter "was nothing personal" either in connection with Endriartono or Ryamizard.

And the way Susilo treated the case, which was later included in the agenda of the new House despite disagreement whether or not to accommodate his request, gave the impression that the President wanted Endriartono to retain his post.

Cabinet secretary Sudi Silalahi confirmed that the President had talked to Endriartono, who agreed to stay on as the TNI chief.

Meanwhile, Endriartono himself had briefed all chiefs of staff and told them that he had decided to retain his post as TNI chief upon the request of the President, who is also the TNI Supreme Commander.

The question would then be why the President chose to maintain Endriartono and not to pick another candidate, Ryamizard, for example.

To answer the question, it would be good to flash back to the period when Endriartono submitted his resignation to Megawati in late September.

National media have widely reported that Endriartono's decision to quit his post was triggered by Megawati's move to grant the four-star general status to State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief A.M. Hendropriyono and then Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno, who were both previously retired Army lieutenant generals.

Although granting a rank promotion to TNI generals is not a new practice for a president in this republic, Megawati's decision was indeed controversial as she granted the status to the generals, who in the eyes of many had not made such an extraordinary contribution during their term in office to warrant a promotion to four-star general.

However, Endriartono's move to submit his resignation letter before the end of Megawati's term and at the time when then president-elect Susilo was putting together his Cabinet was equally controversial.

Many in political and military circles have expressed the belief that Endriartono's move was part and parcel of the selection process being carried out by Susilo to fill in the Cabinet posts.

It was also mentioned that Endriartono was once offered the post of coordinating minister for political, legal and security Affairs, but he had to let it go as Susilo was in favor of Adm. (ret) Widodo A.S., who is more senior than Endriartono. Widodo is a 1968 graduate of the Naval Academy and the TNI chief during the presidency of Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, while Endriartono is a 1971 graduate of the National Military Academy.

And it was not possible for Endriartono, a four-star general, to accept the offer of the post of home minister, a Cabinet post which has traditionally been held by officers from the TNI headquarters, because the post is intended for three-star generals only.

After it was clear that Endriartono could not get a Cabinet post, the idea emerged of asking for the annulment of Megawati's request to the House. And constitutionally speaking, Endriartono could get his post back as the House had yet to make any decision on his resignation letter.

The decision whether to elect a new TNI chief or retain Endriartono would then be in the hands of the House.

Pro-Susilo factions are pressing for the annulment of Megawati's letter on the dismissal of Endriartono and the appointment of Ryamizard as acting TNI chief.

Factions affiliated to the Nationhood Coalition plus the National Awakening Party (PKB) instead insisted on responding to the letter sent by Megawati. The Nationhood Coalition comprises the Golkar Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party, the Prosperous Peace Party and the Reform Star Party.

Some of the House members mulled exercising their right to summon the President to seek an explanation for his letter. They also suggested an alternative candidate for the post, Deputy Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Djoko Santoso.

However, in terms of strategy, it will be more appropriate for Susilo to keep Endriartono as TNI chief rather than appointing Ryamizard or Djoko as the new chief.

By keeping Endriartono in command, it will be easier for Susilo to gain support from the TNI headquarters, although he himself is a TNI general.

And by keeping Endriartono, it will also reduce potential resistance from the Navy and the Air Force.

There was an agreement made during the presidency of Abdurrahman Wahid that the post of TNI chief would be rotated among the three TNI forces. But after the ouster of Abdurrahman in October 2001, Megawati appointed Endriartono to replace Widodo, instead of granting the post to an Air Force officer.

And if Susilo appoints Ryamizard, a 1973 graduate of the National Military Academy, or Djoko, a 1975 graduate of the academy, it will be difficult to deal with the Navy and the Air Force, as the Navy Chief of Staff Vice Adm. Bernard Kent Sondakh is a 1970 graduate of the Naval Academy and the Air Force Chief of Staff Vice Marshal Chappy Hakim is a 1971 graduate of the Air Force Academy.