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DE RUEHJA #2032/01 0461229
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FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9582
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 9012
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON IMMEDIATE 0579
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002032 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2016 
TAGS: MASS MARR PREL PGOV ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIA:  SBY USES INVESTITURE OF NEW TNI CHIEF 
TO PRESS FOR FURTHER TNI REFORM 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL OFFICER RAYMOND RICHHART.  REASONS 1.4 (B) AND 
 (D). 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  Indonesian President Yudhoyono February 
13 swore in Chief Air Marshal Djoko Suyanto as the new 
commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) to replace 
General Endriartono Sutarto.  Air Marshal Suyanto, the first 
Air Force Officer to hold the position, will assume command 
of the TNI February 20.  President Yudhoyono used the 
occasion of Suyanto's investiture to review reform of TNI 
since 1998 and to reemphasize the importance of 
non-involvement of TNI officers in politics.  Yudhoyono also 
outlined new priorities for TNI reform, emphasizing that the 
new TNI Chief should increase development of doctrines, 
improvement of education and training, modernization of 
equipment and weapons systems and other steps to improve the 
professionalization of TNI's personnel.  Yudhoyono also 
emphasized the importance of respect for civilian authority 
and TNI observance of Indonesia's constitution and laws.  End 
Summary. 
 
Sutarto Passes Reins to Suyanto 
------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono 
February 13 swore in Air Marshal Djoko Suyanto as the new 
commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), replacing 
General Sutarto, who had held the position since June, 2002. 
Air Marshal Herman Prayitno was sworn in as Suyanto's 
replacement as Chief of the Air Force.  Suyanto will formally 
assume charge of TNI in a Change of Command ceremony February 
20; Prayitno took the reigns of the Air Force at a change of 
command held on February 15.  Air Marshal Suyanto is the 
first Air Force Officer to command TNI, and only the second 
non-army officer; ADM Widodo was TNI Commander from 
2000-2002.  His assignment is in keeping with the spirit of 
the TNI Law passed in October, 2004, which advocated rotating 
the "Panglima" position among the three services.  An academy 
classmate of Yudhoyono, Suyanto has a clean record and was an 
early promoter of TNI reform, collaborating with the late LTG 
Agus Wirahadikusumah in publishing a book outlining the way 
forward for TNI during the uncertain times after the fall of 
Suharto.  The U.S.-trained Suyanto is open-minded, speaks 
excellent English, and welcomes opportunities to interact 
with the international community.  He appreciates U.S. 
training opportunities and can be expected to seek every 
opportunity to engage with American forces.  Although his Air 
Force background may limit his informal influence, senior 
Army officers have voiced support for the new Panglima and 
appear ready to work with Suyanto in furthering reform and 
professionalism of TNI. 
 
Yudhoyono Analyzes Past TNI Reform 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) President Yudhoyono used his speech at the 
investiture to review reform of TNI since 1998.  He noted 
that the level of TNI activity had been elevated in the years 
1998-2003, with a high level and frequency of TNI deployments 
"because the country needed this."  In 2004 and 2005, he 
recounted that the intensity of TNI activity declined, but 
remained relatively high, and TNI accomplished "significant 
and honorable tasks for the nation and country."  As a 
consequence, however, TNI could not fully fulfill other 
tasks, such as education and training, modernization, and 
developing "proper authority" structures.  Emphasizing that 
such shortcomings were not of TNI's making, he said that "we 
witnessed together during this vital period TNI's 
accomplishments of non-war military operations.  We know that 
TNI faced separatism, dealt with security disturbances, and 
so forth in the duties they shared with the Indonesian 
National Police." 
 
Shift to Development Activities 
------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (U) Yudhoyono called for the new TNI Chief and the 
service chiefs to develop doctrines, improve education and 
training, modernize equipment, machinery and weapons systems 
or other things to enhance the TNI's personnel.  Regarding 
procurement to modernize equipment, SBY requested that 
purchases "be carried out in proportion to the capability of 
the government's budget."  Yudhoyono, in a clear effort to 
centralize purchasing decisions under civilian control and 
away from the individual services, said that "the highest 
 
JAKARTA 00002032  002 OF 002 
 
 
level of decision-making will come from the President and 
Defense Minister" for TNI procurement.  He emphasized that 
the GOI must "follow mechanisms and procedures, carry them 
out transparently, with accountability and without fraud and 
also prioritize use of domestic products made by our defense 
industries before procuring from other countries."  Yudhoyono 
also charged the chiefs to improve the welfare of their 
troops. 
 
"Objective and Soul" of TNI Reform: No Politics 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶5.  (U) Yudhoyono reminded the audience that in October 2005 
he had asked TNI to continue its internal reform "because TNI 
respects democracy."  While TNI's reform "had been fruitful," 
Yudhoyono emphasized that it was not finished and should 
continue.  He added that the "soul and spirit of the reform 
is TNI's withdrawal from political activities; TNI's return 
to its identity and professionalism; and increasing TNI's 
efforts to improve its posture and capabilities."  He 
observed that "in this transition era there are still 
temptations for Generals, Admirals and Marshals to enter the 
political arena," but emphasized that "we cannot afford for 
this to reoccur."  Yudhoyono cautioned that during elections, 
officers "should maintain their identity, be neutral, 
non-partisan and again free TNI from practical political 
activities because that is the objective and soul of reform." 
 
 
Political Decisions Required for Use of Force 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (U) Yudhoyono stressed that officers "should obey state 
regulations, political systems and the democracy we adopted 
as stipulated in the 1945 Constitution," and TNI regulations 
should be redrawn to refer to the Constitution and applicable 
laws.  He noted that the use of military power in war with 
other countries was "in the political domain" and the 
decision in the hands of the President and subject to 
approval by the House of Representatives.  He emphasized that 
"it is not in TNI's authority to use its power to wage war 
with other countries," and when TNI received an order to act 
it is their duty to follow such orders.  In other conflicts, 
Yudhoyono continued, "the law clearly states that military 
operations other than war, for example dealing with 
separatism and armed movements, require a political decision 
that will become the legal basis for TNI to carry out that 
fundamental duty." 
 
TNI Respect for the "Rules of the Game" 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (U) Yudhoyono concluded by urging TNI to understand that 
by respecting legal authorities, "the system will run well 
and all sides will be responsible" in accordance with the 
law, and this constitutes part of TNI's reform.  Yudhoyono 
noted this was "part of respect, obedience and TNI's efforts 
to position itself in the democratic process."  He added that 
this was part of the democratic system and such "rules of the 
game" should not be viewed as "interference in TNI's 
authority." 
PASCOE