Widodo to stay but Tyasno may be replaced: Mahfud
Widodo to stay but Tyasno may be replaced: Mahfud
JAKARTA (JP): Speculation of the imminent replacement of
Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Adm. Widodo A.S. was put to an
end on Friday, with defense minister Mahfud M.D. announcing that
the armed forces commander would keep his job for at least one
more year.
In a span of six hours the minister revealed that the
replacement of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto is highly
probable.
Mahfud said after meeting with President Abdurrahman Wahid at
the Merdeka Palace just before dusk that Tyasno's fate would be
determined within one or two days.
"It is not definite yet, but just wait one or two days,"
Mahfud was quoted by Antara.
When asked to disclose the name of Tyasno's successor, Mahfud
said that the candidate for the job remained undecided.
The news agency said Widodo and Cabinet Secretary Marsilam
Simanjuntak were also present on Friday.
It has been rumored for weeks that Tyasno, who succeeded Gen.
Subagyo Hadisiswoyo last December, would be replaced. Deputy Army
Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, TNI Chief of
Territorial Affairs Lt. Gen. Agus Widjojo and former chief of
Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) Lt. Gen. Agus
Wirahadikusumah have been tipped to take over from Tyasno.
The Army was brought into the spotlight again following the
arrest of two soldiers from the Army's elite units Kopassus and
Kostrad who were allegedly involved in a series of bomb attacks
in the country.
Earlier in the day, Mahfud denied widespread rumors of
Widodo's immediate exit from the TNI top post.
"What I can confirm right now is that there will be no change
of guard in the military for at least one year," Mahfud told
journalists after Friday prayers.
Mahfud hinted however that there would be a major reshuffle in
the top ranks of the military saying that the decision was "still
being evaluated".
"I think the decision (on the reshuffle) will be announced
soon," he said.
He added that top military positions currently "under
evaluation" were TNI chief of general affairs and the three armed
forces chiefs of staff.
The TNI chief of general affairs post is now held by Lt. Gen.
Djamari Chaniago, with Air Marshal Hanafie Asnan and Adm. Ahmad
Sutjipto holding the Air Force and Navy top jobs respectively.
Mahfud's statement came only 24 hours after Lt. Gen. Agus
Widjojo said that the next TNI chief would be selected from the
Air Force.
Agus said that there should not be any change in the
appointment of an Air Force candidate to be the next TNI chief
unless there was a political decision which forced the President
to alter the decision.
Hanafie has so far been rumored to be the strongest candidate
to replace Widodo, who is reaching his retirement age of 55 this
year.
Analysts believe that Widodo was not in full control of other
military branches, particularly the Army.
Despite little evidence, many believe rogue elements in the
Army were involved in a series of communal violence and bomb
attacks in the country.
In the Straits Times interview which was published on
Thursday, Mahfud said he expected another military reshuffle
"maybe in the next few days."
"There will be a reshuffle soon so that new blood can move up
the ranks," the newspaper quoted him as saying. (byg)