TNI's top brass overhauled

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE, FEB. 28. The Indonesian President, Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid, today appointed the former U.S. Secretary of State, Mr. Henry Kissinger, as a political adviser. In an unrelated but significant move, Mr. Wahid played a significant part in changing the complexion of the ``strategic posts'' in the Indonesian military establishment (TNI).

The TNI spokesman, Air Rear Marshal Graito Usodo, acknowledged that the President was, as ``usual'', consulted in regard to today's military shuffle. However, according to the spokesman, the shuffle involving 74 top officers across the entire spectrum of the Army, Navy and the Air Force could not be seen as a purge ordered by either the President or the military leadership. The changes would be effective from March 1.

The appointment of Mr. Kissinger as a key political adviser was announced shortly after he called on Mr. Wahid in Jakarta today. The former U.S. foreign policy wizard accepted the position in the context of his keenness to see Indonesia sustain itself as a unified, strong and democratic State, it was stated. The immediate indication was that Mr. Kissinger would hold talks with Mr. Wahid on the political and social policies of the nation at least once a year.

Announcing the military shake-up, the TNI spokesman said it was but a ``matter of technicality'' and organisational improvement. It encompassed two positions at the Defence Ministry, 19 at the TNI (or the collective military) headquarters, 14 in the Army, 18 in the Air Force and 21 in the Navy. The changes affected officers ranging in rank from one-star generals to three-star generals. Institutional ``dynamics'' as also the ``needs'' of the current situation and the exigencies of retirements had caused this sweeping array of changes, it was said.

The most conspicuous of the shuffle was the promotion of an officer known for his open criticism of the TNI's traditional role in politics. This was seen in political circles as the direct result of a sleight of hand by Mr. Wahid, who had recently observed that the anti-TNI comments by this officer, Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah, should be seen in the context of a ``clogging'' of ``communications'' within the military hierarchy over a long period. Mr. Wahid had also said that he was not sure of the loyalty of nearly 10 per cent of the TNI top brass and the civilian overlords of the new political dispensation.

Maj. Gen. Wirahadikusumah has been elevated to the post of Chief of the Army Strategic Reserve Command, an elite corps, in the place of Lt. Gen. Djaja Supratman, an acknowledged ally of Gen. Wiranto, who was recently suspended by the President from his Cabinet.

Gen. Wiranto, whose active military service would end by March 31, was the Senior Minister for Politics and Security Affairs. The Wahid-Wiranto tussle over Indonesia's recent track record in East Timor had prompted Maj. Gen. Wirahadikusumah to demand that Gen. Wiranto, formerly the TNI's helmsman, should give up his Cabinet post in deference to the President's wishes. The comment had raised a furore within the TNI ranks but it was soon contained.

The elevation of Maj. Gen. Wirahadikusumah was seen by analysts as another manifestation of Mr. Wahid's ascendancy, despite the official line that the shuffle was apolitical. Most of the other key changes in the Army hierarchy were a question of chain reaction.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Kissinger held talks with the Defence Committee of Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR). Mr. Yasril Ananta Baharuddin, chairman of the DPR defence panel, later said Mr. Kissinger had assured the parliamentarians that the U.S. was never supportive of the separatist movement in the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya (now, Papua). Mr. Kissinger is said to be associated with the policy planning echelons of Freeport McMoran which has a significant mining stake in Irian Jaya, and his comments acquired additional importance in this context.

On yet another front, Mr. Wahid's planned visit to Dili tomorrow has been welcomed by the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) and the independence leaders of that territory as an opportunity for beginning the process of bringing the half-island, formerly a disputed province of Indonesia, and Jakarta together.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : CDU trounced in State poll
Next     : 4 PoWs released