Soeryo Winoto, Jakarta – Many had doubted Air Chief Marshal Djoko Suyanto's capabilities of overseeing all the armed forces, especially the Army, before he was appointed as Indonesian Military (TNI) commander early this year.
Skepticism was understandable, given the fact that Army soldiers make up the majority of TNI personnel and that the Army was dominant in Indonesian politics in the past.
While many people were still linking Suyanto's rise to the TNI's top post with the history of sharp rivalry between the Army and Air Force in the 1960s, the new military commander went through his early tests in office with optimism.
His initiative to invite his predecessors, including Gen. (ret) Wiranto, for a get-together, was a strategic approach that gave him access to senior Army officers. Gradually, skepticism over Suyanto's ability to build trust with the Army faded.
However, the people are again starting to doubt he is capable of overseeing the Army, following the finding of an arms stash at the house of deceased Army Brig. Gen. Koesmayadi in Jakarta on June 25. Koesmayadi, who had been the deputy to the assistant for logistics to the Army chief, was close to former Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, one of Suyanto's competitors for the TNI's top job.
Suyanto has not been convincing in certain statements made to the media explaining how and why Koesmayadi had been hoarding 185 arms, 43 of which were nonstandard issue. The TNI chief's cautiousness has put him in a difficult situation as many believe he knows the truth behind the situation. Therefore, the investigators' explanation that the arms were stashed at Koesmayadi's house just because he was an avid arms collector was met with questions and cynicism.
Strangely, the investigation revealed Koesmayadi had been obsessed with the idea of opening an arms museum.
Suyanto had earlier revealed that the probe into Koesmayadi's case had been completed after a total of 132 people, including a four-star general, were thoroughly questioned. He said the probes were not supposed to find them guilty, but expected that legal proceedings had to go on.
Military Police chief Maj. Gen. Hendardji Supandji told a press briefing early this month that Koesmayadi and his son-in-law had failed to follow the standard procedures for possessing weapons.
According to Hendardji, Koesmayadi had illegally sourced some of the guns and stored them at one of his houses in Ancol, North Jakarta, while his son-in-law, an officer in the presidential details unit, was blamed for moving the arms from Koesmayadi's residence in South Jakarta.
Later the investigative team disclosed that Koesmayadi had ordered the purchase of 60 arms through six procurements from March to May 2006. The team also found 23 arms procurements from March to October 2004 in the supply of 623 rifles, 16 live grenades and more than 9,000 ammunitions. The most interesting part of this affair is that the TNI admitted to all the arms purchases.
The investigation also identified a ring of 11 people, including Koesmayadi and his son-in-law.
Army chief of staff Gen. Djoko Santoso has also disclosed that two Italians and a South African national were among the group suspected to have known about the affair.
Soon after the revelation of the arms stash at Koesmayadi's residence, speculation was rife among the people. Some said a coup attempt could be behind the arms stash. Others said it was solid evidence of illicit businesses involving the Army.
Those with common sense will ask if Koesmayadi really collected weapons for a hobby or dreamed of opening a museum? Is such an explanation acceptable and not an insult to the intelligence?
Would Koesmayadi's obsession with opening an arms museum have remained a secret had the Military Police not looked into the case? What would have happened if Koesmayadi had lived? Would the arms stash have remained undiscovered?
Common people view the Koesmayadi affair as a small part of a big scenario, which could be a lucrative business involving Army officers. And it is TNI chief Suyanto who is responsible for shedding some light on the mystery. He must prove his capability by "breaking" the circle. The Koesmayadi affair is indeed a real test for Suyanto.
After the House approved his nomination as TNI chief early in February, Suyanto told The Jakarta Post: "There is the possibility that my knowledge of the Army or Navy is not that deep compared to theirs, because I am an Air Force man....."
It is time for Suyanto to prove that his knowledge and control of the Army is adequate, and to show he has the courage to bring clarity to the Koesmayadi affair – even though, which is most likely, he will have to rock the boat.
[The author is a staff writer of The Jakarta Post. He can be reached at soeryo@thejakartapost.com.]