After all the praise that has been heaped by the public and the media on President Megawati Soekarnoputri for the contribution she made in smoothing the path towards democracy in Indonesia, news of the unexpected resignation of the chief of the Indonesian military (TNI), Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, and his proposed replacement by the Army chief, Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, came like a bombshell, crashing down and ready to spoil the post-election mood of mutual goodwill and trust that seems only just to be on the point of blossoming among the Indonesian public.

Of course, at issue is not that unforeseen shifts in leadership are taboo in the armed services. The problem is that Gen. Endriartono's resignation, and his proposed replacement by Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, occurs at the very moment of transition between two administrations – from that of the incumbent president, Megawati, to that of the president-elect, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The point is that although no clear-cut ruling or legislation exists that prohibits an outgoing president from doing so, political ethics dictate that an outgoing president not make any policy decisions that are of a strategic nature. To make matters worse – and to further add to the public's suspicions of some hidden political agenda being unrolled by the pro-Megawati camp – Gen. Endriartono has so far given no explanation whatsoever of the reasons for his resignation. Analysts are merely left to assume that his reason for doing so was in protest to the much-criticized presidential decision to grant the title of full general to two of Megawati's close assistants, the Coordinating Minister ad interim of Political and Security Affairs, Hari Sabarno, and the head of the National Intelligence Agency, A.M. Hendropriyono.

Pro-Megawati politicians have pointed out that there is "nothing strange" about Gen. Endriartono's retirement, since he is already two years past his official retirement age. However, one point that further strengthens the public's suspicions of foul play is the fact that a convention exists in the Indonesian armed services to rotate the top leadership among the three armed services: the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. If Gen. Endriarto is to be replaced, military observers say, it should be the turn of the Air Force to assume the top command post.

Whatever the case, and whatever one may say about the whole affair, one thing is clear: This highly irregular manner of leadership change within the armed services, the TNI, is certain to place the incoming president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono – whose privilege it should have been to make the appointments – in a difficult position, even though, technically, the final word on the subject has not been spoken. House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono, who as a member of the Golkar Party also belongs to the pro-Megawati Nationhood Coalition, said the other day that the appointment of a TNI chief must be done with the approval of the House of Representatives. Ryamizard, according to Agung, would only serve as acting TNI chief, pending the appointment of a new commander. With his appointment as TNI chief, Ryamizard now holds three key leadership posts within the military: Army Chief of Staff, acting chief of the TNI, and chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad).

In the meantime, it would be sad for the Indonesian people to see Megawati fail to take this opportunity to bow out gracefully. Not only has she so far refused to reconcile her differences with the president-elect and ensure a smooth transition, she has yet to concede to her election defeat and congratulate the president-elect and former rival, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. For the sake of not only her own personal esteem, but for the future of her party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), we hope she will as yet see the light and act as befits a true leader; with grace and elegance.