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)