JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – The Commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI) General Moeldoko announced his plan to give 55,000 watches to the soldiers throughout the country with his mandatory retirement age on the horizon.

The four-star general, however, assured that the fund of said 55,000 watches was not funded by the State budget. Instead, Moeldoko said the fund of said 55,000 watches will be funded by his colleagues.

Yesterday (May. 19), Moeldoko has symbolically gave two watches to two soldiers from the Garuda Hitam 043 Military Resort Command (Korem) and the Garuda Emas 041 Military Resort Command respectively in Lampung.

Moeldoko will enter his mandatory retirement age on July 8, 2015.

The Air Force Chief of Staff (KSAU) Air Marshal Agus Supriatna and the Navy Chief of Staff (KSAL) Admiral Ade Supandi have been widely mentioned as the strongest candidates for becoming the next military commander. (haryantosuharman@yosefardi.com)