Endriartono Sutarto Endriartono Sutarto is a retired army general ( b . April 29 , 1947 in Purworejo , Central Java ; 65 years old ) . The graduate of Indonesian Armed Forces Academy of 1971 Class is a former Indonesian Military ( TNI ) chief from 2002 - 2006 . Before assuming the highest helm at the military , Endriartono has served some key positions in the Army , including the Army Chief of Staff ( Oct 9 , 2000 – June 4 , 2002 ) , the Army Deputy Chief of Staff and Commander of Indonesia Military School of Commander . Previously he also served as operation assistant to army ’ s chief of general staff at the TNI Headquarters . When former president Suharto stepped down on May 21 , Endriartono was his commander of presidential guard . Personal . Born from couple Sutarto and Siti Sumarti Sutarto , Endriartono has three children ( daughter Ratri Indrihapsari and sons Indra Gunawan Sutarto and M . Adi Prasantyo Sutarto ) from his marriage with Andy Widayati . Military career . Endriartono ’ s military career soared during the administration of former president Abdurrahman “ Gus Dur ” Wahid as on Oct . 9 , the president installed him as Army Chief ( KASAD ) replacing Gen . Tyasno Sudarto . Apart from his seasoned military knowledge , Endriartono who speaks fluent English has completed his undergraduate degree from Military Law School ( STHM ) in Jakarta . Endriartono has also taken a wide range of military courses while climbed up to top posts in the military , among others Sussarcab Infanteri ( Infantry Basic Branch / Corps Course ) , Suslapa I Infanteri ( Infantry Officer Advanced Course ) , Army School for Commanders ( SESKOAD ) , Armed Forces Commanders ’ School ( SESKO ABRI ) and National Resilience Institute ( Lemhanas ) . Besides , he also furthered his education to develop his specialty including Susjurpa Course , English Course , Air Borne , Ranger , Path Finder Course , Combat Instructor Course and Infantry Battalion Commander Course . He attained military top post when former president Megawati Soekarnoputri appointed him TNI chief on June 2 , 2002 . The country ’ s history recorded him as the 12th Indonesian Military Chief . The downfall of New Order and the birth of Reform era in 1998 have somehow served as a turning point for the Indonesian Military history . The TNI began its grueling job to reform its task , function and role in the newly exercised democracy by focusing on defense and security aspect and staying away from political arena . With pressures and the call of the era , TNI must be sterile from politics unlike in the past when military owned dual function in defense and security as well as in politics . History has it that TNI was an integral part of the New Order regime because the TNI , especially the army , was deemed as Suharto ’ s golden child . The latter was a five - star army general . However , commitments shown from top down , TNI brass to its soldiers , have gradually won the public ’ s trust . The neutrality of the military was put on a test when the country had its first - ever direct election in 2004 as politicians and political parties attempted to draw military into political arena , yet again . Under the leadership of then Gen . Endriartono Sutarto , the forces strongly opposed the attempts . Firmly and consistently Endriartono prevented political hands to infiltrate into the institution . The 2004 elections was a success and dubbed the most democratic elections the country ever had . Retired military general , Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was elected president and TNI remained keeping its distance from political practices . Endriartono has demonstrated his true patriotic call and played crucial role in keeping TNI neutrality in the 2004 general elections . During his tenure , there were several major cases that involved TNI and security - defense policies in Indonesia . An instance of point in case was the making of Aceh peace truce that was achieved after a long diplomatic negotiation process in Helsinki , Norway . Endriartono , as TNI chief then , became a deciding factor in the success of Aceh peace agreement and its implementation in the westernmost province where Free Aceh Movement had been in war with the military . In the wake of tsunami that hit the province in 2004 , doors were opened for both warring parties to agree on making peace . For his commandable role and integrity in keeping TNI neutrality , advancing tsunami humanitarian operations instead of military operation in Aceh , maintaining peace during its critical times , and dedication to the country , on Nov 10 , 2008 Modernisator recognized Endriartono and awarded him " Present Day Hero " . Other achievement that Endriartono made during his tenure as TNI chief was when he decided to place and rank all forces in purely equal linear position . The Army , the Navy and Air Forces were equal in so many ways . Endriartono broke the old tradition in the military that the Army was perceived to be more dominant than other forces . And he made the change of tradition systematically , clearly and firmly . Certain posts usually assumed by army officers were hauled by balancing the structures and used merit - based appraisal to promote officers regardless of their forces . Endriartono who was a high - ranking army officer announced that he deeply respected other forces ; the Navy and the Air Forces . Under his leadership , officers from the Air Forces could begin assuming posts like Logistics Assistant Chief at the TNI Headquarters and even become chief of general staff , a post that had been traditionally , for decades , became a regular one for Army officer . Likewise , the post of General Secretary at the Defense Ministry was for the first time assigned to an Air Force officer . Three - star - generals at the TNI Headquarters used to be dominated by the Army were restructured into three positions dedicated respectively for the Army , the Navy and the Air Forces . Endriartono tendered his post to a successor from the Air Forces . Military Highlights . These are a few positions were held by Endriartono : Overseas Assignments . Endriartono Sutarto went to overseas assignments and studies . He went to Egypt in 1975 , Saudi Arabia in 1975 and the United States in 1977 , New Zealand in 1983 , Malaysia in 1984 and 2000 . In 1989 he was assigned to Iraq and Iran , to Cambodia in 1991 , Thailand in 1992 and England in 1995 . Never Ending Dedication . After resigning from military , Endriartono Sutarto continues his activities in a number of organizations . His passion for activism and organization was shown in his tender age when he chaired student organization at his school , public high school SMAN 2 Bandung from 1966 - 1967 . On September 2010 , Endriartono was on advisory board for KPK ( Commission for Corruption Eradication ) defense team . His involvement in the board defending KPK had stirred speculations that there were “ invisible powerful hands ” were behind the attempts to criminalize KPK leaders then , Bibit Samad Riyanto and Chandra M . Hamzah . “ I don ’ t want to speculate . But if that ’ s the case , with me in the board ( Bibit - Chandra defense team ) , the ‘ invisible powerful hands ’ must think twice to continue whatever they intend to do , ” Endriarto once said . From 2010 Endriartono has been active as the executive chairman for 7 Summits Expedition Wanadri and also become an advisor for Indonesia Mengajar Movement . Tireless , Endriartono is also advisor for Indonesia Setara Foundation . His experience in leading the armed forces of the world ’ s fourth most populously country with thousands of ethnic groups and competence in handling conflicts have earned recognition for Endriartono , not only at home but also overseas . He was invited by Military Dialog Center to help seeking resolution for Myanmar conflict . Political career . Endriartono began his involvement in political practices in September 2012 . Some suspect that Endriartono ’ s move to political stage is part of his plan to race in the 2014 presidential election . Endriartono formally joined in the National Democratic ( Nasdem ) Party in September 30 , 2012 . During an interview at the popular talk show Mata Najwa aired by Metro TV , Endriartono said he had not yet joined in Nasdem Party but he was part of its mass organization . He officially began his political career as a member of Nasdem Party ’ s advisory council and has been rumored as strongest candidate to take the highest helm as the party chairman on the party ’ s upcoming national congress scheduled to be held at the end of January 2013 . Endriartono ’ s decision to join Nasdem Party has raised questions to many quarters . However , Endriartono stressed that he only had one reason that was to make a change . “ It takes power to be able to make a change , without power we cannot do anything . That how the ( political ) system works here . To get the power we must win the election , if not the presidential post , at least we can get a hold of the House of Representatives ( DPR ) so we can create pro - people policies , ” he said . In recent survey on the 2014 presidential election by LSI ( Lingkar Survei Indonesia ) Endriartono was enlisted as one of alternative candidates to be Indonesia President based on five categories as follow : The rank based on LSI survey is as follows : In this LSI survey Endriartono is ranked 11th with a total score of 66 . Commenting on the survey result , Endriartono said , ” I thank all respondents ( of the survey ) . It is definitely a challenge to realize those expectations , " . On January 25 , 2013 National Democratic Party organized a congress during which cofounder Surya Paloh was unanimously elected party chairman to serve 2012 - 2017 term . The congress also mandated Surya Paloh , as elected chairman , to compose a new line up of party executives , aimed at winning the legislative election in 2014 . On February 8 , Surya Paloh announced the new composition of Nasdem Party executive that included Endriartono Sutarto as chairman for its consultative council . Controversies . Endriartono Sutarto ’ s decision to tender his post as TNI chief before his tenure completed came as a surprise for many . On October 2004 TNI Headquarters in Cilangkap confirmed the resignation and cited three conditions that Endriartono requested . TNI said in the letter submitted to then president Megawati Soekarnoputri Endriarto cited first the need for reorganization significance inside TNI , age factor ( Endriartono ’ s retirement had been extended for two years ) , and a successor from one of his chief of staffs . After he retired , Endriartono took up a commissioner position at state oil company Pertamina but it did not last long because Endriartono resigned shortly . Circulating informations say it was discomforting for Endriartono to receive a huge amount of monthly salary from the company while he did not do much to earn it . " I resigned my position in Pertamina because I saw how Pertamina did not deliver its best service to the public . Although it is a profit - oriented company but it did not mean that it solely seek profits since it manages natural resources that are strategic for public needs , " said Endriartono . Air Force Marshall ( Ret ) Chappy Hakim believed that the decision must be made because Endriartono ’ s principals and values that he clinged to collided with what he found inside the company once known as one of the most corrupt state enterprises . Notes .