JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – Lt. Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo has been sworn in on Friday (July 25) by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) as new Army Chief of Staff (KSAD).
The three star general replaced Gen. Budiman, who would enter into his mandatory retirement age on September 25, 2014.
Budiman, however, did not attend the inauguration ceremony held at the State Palace Jakarta.
As reported earlier, Budiman told to Tempo that he had been dismissed by the president. But the State Palace denied the dismissal rumor, argued that Gatot’s promotion was just a routine regeneration in the military.
The president appointed Gatot as the new Army Chief of Staff through the presidential decree No. 36/TNI/2014 signed on July 21, 2014.
Born in Tegal, Central Java, on March 13, 1960, Gatot graduated from the Military Academy (Akmil) in 1982.
Prior to the appointment, Gatot was the Army’s Strategic Reserve Commander (Pangkostrad).
Gatot had ever served as Governor of the Military Academy from 2009 to 2010 before promoted as Regional Military Commander (Pangdam) V/Brawijaya (2010-2011).
He now also serves as Chairman of the Indonesian Karate-Do Federation (FORKI) for the 2014-2018 period. (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)