Fadjroel Becomes Ambassador, The Palace: There Is No Directive To Replace Spokesperson

DOCUMENTATION ANTARA/FADJROEL RACHMAN

JAKARTA - The position of Spokesperson for President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is now vacant after Fadjroel Rachman was inaugurated as the Indonesian Ambassador to Kazakhstan. However, this position is likely to be vacated considering that there has been no official statement from President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) so far.

"Until now there has been no directive from the President," said Deputy for Protocol, Press and Media Bey Machmudin to reporters, Monday, October 25.

Moreover, it is said that the role of spokesperson can still be handled by the Minister of State Secretary (Menseskab) Pramono Anung, Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) Pratikno, and the Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko.

A similar statement was conveyed by the Head of the Presidential Secretariat (Kasetpres) Heru Budi Hartono who also said that a replacement for Fadjroel had not been determined and had not even been proposed.

"There is no replacement, it has not been proposed," he said.

Previously reported, President Jokowi officially inaugurated 17 Indonesian Ambassadors at the State Palace today or Monday, October 25.

Those who were sworn in as Indonesian Ambassadors were Fadjroel Rachman as Indonesian Ambassador to Kazakhstan and the Republic of Tajikistan; Abdul Aziz for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia concurrently with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC); Dewi Tobing for Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives; Bebeb AK Djundjunan For the Greek Republic; and Lena Maryana Mukti for Kuwait.

Next Personal Sutiono for the Slovak Republic; Muhammad Najib for the Kingdom of Spain concurrently with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO); Ardi Hermawan for the Kingdom of Bahrain; Ade Padmo Sarwono for the Kingdom of Jordan Hashimiah concurrently Palestine; and Mohamad Oemar for France concurrently the Principality of Andorra, the Principality of Monaco, and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Then Tatang Budi Utama Razak for the Republic of Colombia concurrently Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis; Derry MI Amman for the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN); Arrmanatha Nasir for the United Nations and other international organizations; Febrian A Ruddyard for the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and other international organizations in Geneva; Siswo Pramono for Australia concurrently Republic of Vanuatu; Okto Dorinus Manik for the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste; and Rosan the Mighty Roeslani for the United States.