Indonesia president Widodo upsets military tradition in naming new armed forces chief

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has picked the army chief of staff to lead the military, breaking with a reform-era tradition of rotating the position between the branches of the armed forces.

The head of the air force was expected to take command of the military after the current chief, General Moeldoko, also from the army, retires on August 1, according to a presidential palace spokesman.

Widodo’s decision to promote General Gatot Nurmantyo is likely to cement the army’s traditionally dominant role and inflame long-standing rivalry within the armed forces, analysts say.

“It was supposed to be the air force’s turn so they will be unhappy campers because of this decision,” said defence analyst Yohanes Suleiman.

“It’s a way for the army to make sure they stay relevant as Jokowi beefs up the navy and air force to pursue his maritime goals,” he said, referring to the president by his nickname.

The military has a long history of involvement in politics in Indonesia and was only squeezed out of the political arena after the fall in 1998 of authoritarian ruler General Suharto.