TNI commander denies navy chief replaced because of differences of opinion

"It`s not true, it`s just a rumor. The replacement is part of the regeneration process in the TNI," the TNI commander said at the State Palace here on Wednesday.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was scheduled to install Vice Admiral Sumarjono as the new navy chief of staff within the next few days. Sumarjono was previously inspector general at the Defense Ministry.

Suyanto said Soebijanto was replaced because he had reached the mandatory retirement age.

"Personnel replacements in a regeneration process in the Navy and all other services of the TNI are something normal to me. So please do not think that he (Soebijanto) was replaced because there were differences of opinion," the TNI chief said.