TNI top job, a strategic post sets politicians bickering

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.