Army Chief Denies Having Likened President As Sinking Ship

Jakarta, July 22 (Antara) - Army Chief General Budiman denied having said that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s government was now like a sinking ship that deserves to be abandoned. "I have never (made the statement). I am an honest man and not a type of traitor," General Budiman stated on the sidelines of a roll call of the military forces in charge of pacification of the 2014 presidential election at the Army headquarters in Central Jakarta on Tuesday. Budiman also denied various rumors regarding his replacement as the Army chief, which was carried out in the run up to the announcement of the recent July 9 presidential result by the General Elections Commission (KPU). One of the rumors was an allegation wherein he had mentioned that Yudhoyono`s government was now like a sinking ship. This alleged statement is believed to have angered the president. The outgoing Army chief stated that there was no other reason behind his replacement. All is based on procedures. The replacement has been made in connection with his pension period. "There is no problem. It need not be explained," he added. Budiman claimed that he knew he was going to be replaced after Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Commander General Moeldoko called him on Monday evening. Budiman said the important thing to do in a short time is to safeguard the security of the presidential election. "In such a short time, I have to safeguard the implementation of the 2014 presidential election. I did what I thought I could and the best one," General Budiman emphasized. In the meantime, TNI Commander General Moeldoko assured that the replacement of the Army chief will not hamper TNI`s preparations in the face of the announcement of the results of the presidential election, which was held on July 9, 2014. "The Army commander`s replacement will not affect the readiness of the forces in the face of the announcement of the presidential poll`s recapitulation," the TNI commander stated after chairing the military roll call on Tuesday. The replacement will be carried out after the TNI chief was summoned by President Yudhoyono on Monday. The president asked him to propose three names from which one will be selected to be the new Army chief. The replacement will be carried out merely to follow the TNI`s regeneration process. "Why is the replacement being carried out? It is because of the interest of the TNI organization and regeneration. Pak (Mr) Budiman will shortly start his pension period. It only coincides with the time when the presidential election result is about to be announced by the KPU," he stressed. The replacement is to be carried out this week pending the issuance of the presidential decision. The TNI commander has submitted three names as the nominees for the Army chief position: Army`s Strategic Reserve Command Chief Let Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, Deputy Chief of the Army Let Gen. M. Munir, and Secretary General of the National Resilience Council Let Gen. Waris.