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)