Widodo TNI chief until 2004

JAKARTA: The controversy over the replacement of Adm. Widodo A.S. as Commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI) continued with TNI spokesman Rear Marshal Graito Usodo saying on Thursday that there would be no replacement of the post of TNI chief until 2004.

"The term of the present TNI chief, according to the valid TNI chief decree, will expire in 2004," Graito said in response to rumors about the impending replacement of Widodo.

According to him, the rumors had originated from certain observers, who had been misinformed.

"Anyway, the replacement issue has only been rumored outside the military establishment," he said.

"And it happens that the extension also complies with the organizational need of the TNI," the military spokesman said.

But, Megawati, through officials of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), has said that she would not extend Widodo's terms in office and would choose a younger candidate to hold the post instead.

It has been reported that TNI headquarters had actually submitted four names as candidates for the TNI chief post. They are incumbent Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, incumbent Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Hanafie Asnan, former Army chief of staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto and TNI Chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago.

Graito also explained that Widodo had not been invited by the House of Representatives (DPR) to a hearing on Monday to clarify the replacement issue.

"It just happened that a member of House Commission I on security and foreign political affairs raised a question about the rumors," he said.--Antara