The Jakarta Post Friday, December 28, 2007

SBY to install TNI chief today

JAKARTA: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will install Army chief Gen. Djoko Santoso as the new chief of the Indonesian Military (TNI) today, replacing Air Chief Marshall Djoko Suyanto, who will enter retirement on Jan. 1, 2008.

"The President is scheduled to install the new TNI chief on Friday (today) at around 2 p.m. after performing the Friday prayer," presidential spokesman Andi A. Mallarangeng confirmed to The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Besides the TNI chief, Yudhoyono will also install the new Army chief and the Air Force chief, said Marshall Suyanto.

Two out of six candidates for the Army chief -- Defense Ministry Secretary-General Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Secretary to the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Lt. Gen. Agustadi Sasongko Purnomo -- have been tipped as strong contenders for the post.

For Air Force chief, Deputy Air Force chief Vice Marshall Subandrio is considered the frontrunner, ahead of fellow candidates Vice Marshall Rio Mendung and Vice Marshall Toto Riyanto.