Irawaty Wardany, Jakarta – Observers and legislators agreed the changing of the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander and chiefs of staff would not affect the military's independence and neutrality ahead of the 2009 general elections.
"It's about time the President replaced the TNI chief and the chiefs of staff," Andrinof Chaniago, a political observer of the University of Indonesia, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. "If the president had delayed the replacements any longer, there would have been more speculation emerging."
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono installed on Friday the new TNI commander Gen. Djoko Santoso, replacing Air Marshall Djoko Suyanto; Army chief Let. Gen. Agustadi Sasongko Purnomo, replacing Santoso; and Air Force chief Vice Marshall Subandrio, replacing Air Marshall Herman Prayitno.
Earlier in November, the President installed Adm. Sumardjono to replace Adm. Slamet Soebijanto as the Navy chief. Yudhoyono himself is a retired four-star Army general.
Andrinof said this was the right moment to change all the chiefs of staff considering there was still enough time for the new chiefs to adjust to their new positions.
He said the appointment of new military chiefs did not have to be questioned, adding the TNI could maintain its neutrality despite much skepticism about the military taking side with certain individuals or parties.
"The Army chief has committed to defending the Army's independence," Andrinof said. "Besides, there is no use... to taking sides in the current environment where people are getting more critically aware of politics."
Indria Samego, a political observer at the Indonesian Science Institute, said it was difficult to find individuals (for the various posts) that had not had a close relationship with the President. "Whoever the president is, there must be a political consideration in his decision," he told the Post.
He said Indonesians could only wait and see whether the newly installed military chiefs would really implement reform in their institutions.
Joseph Kristiadi from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies told the Post the military's neutrality was not an issue anymore because the military was no longer a factor in politics.
Yuddy Chrisnandy of the House of Representatives' Commission I overseeing defense issues shared a similar view. "The TNI is getting more advanced and it will be difficult for the President to take advantage of the military for his political interests," he told the Post.
Another Commission I member, Andreas H. Pareira, expected the appointment of the new flag officers would be create momentum in speeding up reform within the TNI.
"The commitment of the newly installed Army chief not to be involved in practical politics should (be adopted by) all chiefs of staff," he told Antara on Tuesday. "In this way, the Army can prove its neutrality and independence from here forward."