Mixed responses greet latest TNI reshuffle (fwd)

["M.G.G. Pillai" <pillai@mgg.pc.my>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 29 Feb 2000 07:37:38
From: tapol@gn.apc.org
Reply-To: "Conference act.indonesia" <indonesia-act@igc.org>
To: Recipients of indonesia-act <indonesia-act@igc.org>
Subject: Mixed responses greet latest TNI reshuffle

From: TAPOL <tapol@gn.apc.org>
Subject: Mixed responses greet latest TNI reshuffle

Received from Joyo Indonesian News

Jakarta Post
February 29, 2000 
 
Mixed responses greet latest TNI reshuffle

JAKARTA (JP): A mixture of praise and regret greeted the latest reshuffle in 
the Indonesian Military (TNI) on Monday, with many believing it to be part of 
the ongoing reform movement within the armed forces. 

Samsu Rizal Panggabean from the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University 
observed that those TNI officers promoted to strategic posts were committed 
to reform and professionalism. 

"People like Agus may be able to boost the professionalism process," he said, 
referring to the chief of the Wirabuana Military Command Maj. Gen. 
Wirahadikusumah, who was appointed chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves 
Command (Kostrad) in place of Lt. Gen. Djadja Suparman. 

Aside from Djadja, Lt. Gen. Suaidi Marasabessy is to relinquish his post as 
TNI chief of general affairs to Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Djamari 
Chaniago. 

Rizal said the major reshuffle would guide TNI to a new era, which required 
the force to safeguard the country in a more professional manner. 

"Gradually the military will withdraw from politics. The promotion of the 
reformists is an effort to eliminate old political habits among military top 
brass," he said. 

Rizal said the TNI's replacement of Djadja was a wise decision, because 
Djadja was among those old guns who found it difficult to respond to the 
demands of professionalism. 

The observer said TNI was having a hard time keeping the democratization 
process on the right track, warning that the long-standing practices that 
gave the military a prominent role in national politics would be difficult to 
scrap. 

"TNI could play a decisive role in making the democratization process a 
success in this country." 

House of Representatives legislator Yasril Ananta Baharuddin from the Golkar 
Party hailed the substitutions in the TNI, but called on the public not to 
speculate about the matter. 

"Let the military handle their own internal affairs. We should no longer link 
every reshuffle with politics," said Yasril, who chairs the House of 
Representatives Commission I for defense, foreign and political affairs. 

He was responding to reports that the reshuffle was aimed at sweeping out TNI 
figures loyal to their former commander Gen. Wiranto, who was suspended as 
the coordinating minister for political affairs and security recently. 

Yasril dismissed the possibility of direct intervention from President 
Abdurrahman Wahid in the reshuffle. 

"I don't see such a possibility. But if there is an indirect intervention, I 
don't know. It might happen," he remarked. 

He viewed the dispute between Wiranto and Agus Wirahadikusumah as a natural 
difference of opinion although it violated the military's code of conduct. 

Admitting that he had heard "bad rumors" about Agus, Yasril asked the public 
to let Agus, the current Wirabuana/ Sulawesi Military commander, prove 
himself in his new job. 

Meanwhile, chief of the Pattimura Military Command Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela 
expressed his surprise at the removal of Suaidi, who is a Maluku native. 

"I was surprised when watching TV that he (Suaidi) got no new post. It's just 
like a blow to the Maluku people as he is a Maluku asset." 

"Personally I was disappointed that he has no new position," Tamaela said. 

There have been reports that Tamaela would be removed from his post. "Maybe 
my superiors have another consideration now that I still hold my post." he 
said. (49/sur/jun) 
 
 

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Campaigning to expose human rights violations in
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