Wardiman to be envoy to Japan: Source

Wardiman to be envoy to Japan: Source

JAKARTA (JP): Japan has given its green light to the
appointment of former education minister Wardiman Djojonegoro as
ambassador to the country, a reliable source said over the
weekend.

"The Japanese government has officially informed your
government of our approval," a Japanese source, speaking on the
condition of anonymity, told The Jakarta Post Saturday.

Wardiman, a minister from 1993 until March this year, is an
old friend of President B.J. Habibie. He would replace Wisber
Loeis.

A government source said early this week Minister of Foreign
Affairs Ali Alatas preferred the ministry's director general for
foreign economic relations Soemadi Brotodiningrat for the
posting.

"We need a first class ambassador to Japan as the country is
our most important trading partner and creditor, but the
President has the prerogative to appoint an ambassador," the
source said.

Habibie has also opted to nominate his younger brother, Junus
Effendy Habibie, as ambassador to Germany to replace senior
diplomat Izhar Ibrahim, the source added.

"He apparently suspended the plan after receiving strong
criticism over it."

Junus was previously the ambassador to Britain. The president
recently appointed him chairman of the Batam Industrial
Development Authority. He was replaced abruptly following
criticism that the appointment smacked of nepotism.

Ruhut Sitompoel, a lawyer and an executive of the Pemuda
Pancasila organization, was also reportedly nominated as
ambassador to Singapore, traditionally a post for a senior
military officer. The plan has apparently been dropped.

Maj. Gen. Luhut Panjaitan, the commander of the Army's
Training Center in Bandung, West Java, is among those tipped for
the strategically important post.

"If we upheld Sitompoel's nomination, I am sure Singapore
would veto him," the source said. (prb)