The name of the new Army chief would be announced pending the issuance of a presidential decree to that effect.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has named a new Army chief of staff to replace Gen George Toisutta who is due to enter retirement on July 1, 2011, National Defence Forces (TNI) Chief Admiral Agus Suhartono said.
The name of the new Army chief would be announced pending the issuance of a presidential decree to that effect, he told the press following a meeting with the President at the Presidential Palace here on Monday night.
"The President has decided (the new Army chief) but I cannot announce (the new Army chief) now before the President issues the decree. Let`s wait and see," Suhartono said.
Yudhoyono on Monday night summoned the TNI chief, the chiefs of three forces, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, and Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi.
The TNI chief confirmed that the meeting discussed a replacement for Gen George Toisutta as Army chief of staff.
But he declined to name the newly-appointed Army chief of staff. "(The new Army chief) has been decided. But I cannot name him now. I am afraid I will make a mistake," he said.
Three lieutenant generals had been widely tipped to replace Toisutta. They were Lt Gen Pramono Edhie Wibowo, Lt Gen Budiman and Lt Gen Marciano Norman.
Pramono is currently commander of the Army`s Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad). Marciano is now commander of the TNI`s Education and Training Command (Kodiklat) in Bandung.
Meanwhile, Budiman has occupied a number of important and strategic posts including commander of combat engineering battalion 10 of the Army`s Strategic Reserves Command and expert staff to the TNI chief for national political and security affairs.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
