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TNI chief denies spat with Jokowi

Jakarta Post - January 11, 2017

Indonesian consul to Darwin says repercussions possible after military strain with Australia – ABC News. January 10, 2017
Indonesia's Joko Widodo 'hopes' to visit Australia soon despite military rift – Sydney Morning Herald. January 9, 2017
Joko moves to rein in Indon military chief – News.com. January 9, 2017
Internal cable suggests Indonesia never intended to fully suspend military ties – Sydney Morning Herald. January 6, 2017
Why Indonesian general Gatot Nurmantyo halted military ties with Australia – Sydney Morning Herald. January 5, 2017

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo has denied reports claiming that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo reprimanded the top military official for unilaterally suspending military cooperation with Australia.

Speaking after a Christmas celebration event at the headquarters of the TNI complex on Wednesday, Gatot said the rumor of a spat between him and Jokowi over relations between the TNI and its counterpart the Australian Defense Force (ADF) was a hoax.

"As I've said before, everything I've done [is acknowledged] by the President as he is my commander. Such warnings are not true," Gatot told reporters.

Citing two government sources, Reuters recently reported that Jokowi "reproached" Gatot during a plenary Cabinet meeting at Bogor Palace last week, amid concerns the military chief was "out of control after he unilaterally suspended defense cooperation" with Australia.

Last month, the TNI moved to halt a language exchange program with the ADF following the discovery of teaching material deemed offensive by an Indonesian officer at an Australian military academy in November.

The material allegedly mocked Indonesia's state ideology, Pancasila. Some teaching materials used in the academy allegedly discredited the TNI and tweaked Pancasila, which means five principles, to become "Pancagila", or "five crazy principles". (jun)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/01/11/tni-chief-denies-spat-with-jokowi.html.