A FORMER general becoming a president at the start of democratization was generally seen to be a double-edged sword. He could have deterred efforts to reform the TNI (Indonesian Military), the institution responsible for his upbringing. Conversely, he could be in a position to push for as much change as possible because he knows well the insides of the TNI.

That was the sentiment when General (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was elected President, t