Wiranto's retirement confirmed

Wiranto's retirement confirmed

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono confirmed
on Wednesday the retirement of former Indonesian Military chief
Gen. Wiranto as of March 31.

"I have seen the decree (on Wiranto's retirement) and it was
signed by the President (Abdurrahman Wahid)," Juwono told
reporters after attending a Cabinet meeting at Bina Graha
presidential office.

"But I don't know whether he (Wiranto) has already received
the decree," Juwono added.

Juwono was responding to a question about Wiranto's status as
the latter claimed earlier this week that he was still an active
general.

The decision to retire Wiranto, 53, from military service was
first disclosed by Abdurrahman in late January.

The President's announcement came days before the government-
sanctioned Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations in
East Timor (KPP HAM) implicated Wiranto and 32 other military and
police officers in last year's violence in the former Indonesian
province.

Abdurrahman then suspended Wiranto from his Cabinet post as
coordinating minister for political affairs and security in
February, pending completion of the investigation into his
alleged involvement in the violence.

Abdurrahman said in January that three other active military
officers serving in the Cabinet were also going to retire on
March 31.

They were Minister of Mines and Energy Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono, Minister of Communications Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar and
State Minister of Administrative Reforms Rear Adm. Freddy
Numberi.

Under the climate of political reform, it has been stipulated
that military and police officers serving at a government post
must resign from active service. (byg)