Markus Junianto Sihaloho

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono rides a military vehicle last month during a ceremony in Jakarta to mark 64th anniverasy of Indonesia's military. (Photo: Haryanto, EPA/Handout)

Replacement of Indonesia's Military Chiefs a ‘Routine’ Affair

Although coming amid a scandal involving the country’s top law enforcement institutions, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s decision to replace the heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force this week is a routine move that had been in the works for months, military observers said on Sunday.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Agustadi Sasongko Purnomo will be replaced by Lt. Gen. George Toisutta, commander of the Army Strategic Command; Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno will turn his post over to Vice Admiral Agus Suhartono, currently inspector general at the Ministry of Defense; and Air Force Chief Air Marshal Subandrio will step aside for Air Vice Marshal Imam Sufaat, who is currently deputy chief.

Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Christian Zebua confirmed on Saturday that a presidential decree ordering the replacements was issued on Friday.

“The handover ceremony of our new [Army] chief will be conducted on Wednesday,” he said.

He said he hadn’t been informed of the reasons behind the replacements, saying it was the president’s prerogative.

Air Commodore Bambang Sulistyo, the Air Force spokesman, said Imam would be inaugurated on Thursday.

“We are working hard to prepare the inauguration ceremony because it’s sudden notice,” Bambang said.

A Navy source told the Jakarta Globe that the inauguration of the naval chief, Suhartono, might be held as early as today.

There was speculation that the replacements came suddenly because Agustadi and Subandrio only assumed their respective positions in December 2007, while Tedjo became the Navy chief in July 2008. The three officials don’t hit retirement age until next year, and top military officials are usually only replaced when they’re close to retiring.

Yudhoyono will likely offer them positions as ambassadors, a military source said.

Nurhayati Assegaf, a member of House of Representatives Commission I overseeing defense and foreign affairs, said the replacement of military chiefs is “routine.”

“Certainly, it’s not a new decision. The president prepared it some time ago and has the power to do it,” she said.

Military observer Andi Wijayanto agreed, saying the decision was not a surprise.

“I have heard about it since September,” he said.

“The new chiefs of staff are capable and professional figures,” he added.

Zebua said one of the three incoming chiefs of staff would likely replace Gen. Djoko Santoso as head of the Armed Forces.

Djoko will reach retirement age in 2010.

If recent history is anything to go by, then Suhartono will be tapped. The job has rotated among the Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs since 1999. That year, then-President Abdurrahman Wahid chose a Naval officer to lead the Armed Forces for the first time in decades, a break from the policy during the Suharto regime of having the Army always control the top slot.

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