Jakarta/Bandung – In a move that could worsen its relationship with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the House of Representatives' defense commission said it had endorsed Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu's nomination as new Indonesian Military (TNI) chief.
House Commission I chairman Theo L. Sambuaga told the press that the decision would be put before a plenary meeting for approval next week. "We have endorsed the nomination of Ryamizard [as TNI chief]. We hope the President will install him soon," Theo said.
House Commission I had been assigned to discuss former president Megawati Soekarnoputri's letter on the appointment of Ryamizard as acting TNI chief following the resignation of Gen. Endriartono Sutarto.
Susilo sent a letter to House leaders last week to withdraw Megawati's letter, but they ignored his letter, arguing that Megawati was the legitimate president when she submitted the letter.
"Legally, Gen. Ryamizard has become the new TNI chief, but the inauguration will depend on President Susilo," commission member Happy Bone Zulkarnaen said.
Susilo had said earlier that he still wanted Endriartono, who had reached his mandatory retirement age of 55 in 2002, to remain for the time being as TNI chief.
By law, the President has the sole authority to appoint the TNI chief, but he/she is obliged to get House approval.
Endriartono said in Bandung on Friday that the replacement of the TNI chief was legitimate only if done through a presidential decree.
Meanwhile, dozens of legislators submitted on Friday a petition to summon Susilo over his decision to revoke Megawati's letter. The proposal was received by House Speaker Agung Laksono, who was accompanied by deputy speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno. The petition will be taken up at a plenary meeting some time next week.
Although the proposal was initiated by legislators from the anti-Susilo Nationhood Coalition, Djoko Edhi Soetjipto of the National Mandate Party (PAN), and a Susilo supporter, also signed the letter.
Djoko said that, as a legislator, he had the right to seek an explanation from the President over his decision to revoke the letter of his predecessor.
PAN faction chairman Abdillah Toha, however, said that the move made by Djoko was not the policy of his faction. "I will have a chat with him about it," Abdillah said.
State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra said that the government was ready to meet them. "Let the people judge whose argument is stronger. As the head of state, the President has the authority to arrange the leadership of TNI," Yusril said.
"Only the President has the authority to replace the TNI chief, not the House and they have to stop dragging the military into the political feud," he added.
He contended that the House no longer had the authority to decide on the TNI chief's replacement as mandated by the People's Consultative Assembly decree No. 6/2000, because that decree was no longer valid.
"They are not actually authorized to discuss the letter that has been withdrawn, so who has actually started the conflict?" Yusril asked.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction chairman Sutjipto said that the weeks-long deadlock should be resolved in a plenary meeting.
"We will reach a final solution at the plenary meeting. We will see then who has good intentions and who does not," he told the press after an internal meeting here on Friday.