President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has inaugurated Adm. Yudo Margono as the commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI) to replace Gen. Andika Perkasa, who is entering retirement.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
·3 minutes read
ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA
TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono (right) accompanied by General Andika Perkasa (left) gives a press statement after the handover ceremony for the position of TNI Commander at the TNI Headquarters Plaza, Cilangkap, East Jakarta, Tuesday (20/12/2022).
The inauguration was held at the State Palace, while the handover ceremony was held at the TNI headquarters. Changing the TNI commander is normal and understandable, considering that Gen. Andika retires this month. The appointment of Adm. Yudo as the TNI Commander is also logical, because the TNI Law stipulates that the TNI commander should rotate between the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.
During the inauguration ceremony, President Jokowi reminded Adm. Yudo to maintain political neutrality and not become involved in practical politics.
"In order to prevent being pulled into practical politics, the synergy between the TNI and National Police (Polri) is important to maintain the state’s conduciveness," said President Jokowi. Army politics was state politics, and the state must adhere to the constitution.
We underline President Jokowi’s reminder. During his short term until he retires in November 2023, Adm. Yudo must maintain a conducive political situation in the political year that will peak on 14 Feb. 2024.
ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA
The handover ceremony for the position of TNI Commander from General Andika Perkasa (back view) to Admiral Yudo Margono (left) at the TNI Headquarters Plaza, Cilangkap, East Jakarta, Tuesday (20/12/2022).
In the midst of a situation full of global uncertainty and the threat of a recession, the TNI, the National Police, and of course, the political elite, have a role in maintaining the country’s political situation, democracy and Constitution, which guides the state. Not to mention, the existing security challenges in Papua also demand attention.
During a relatively short term, Adm. Yudo is tasked with consolidating the TNI into a solid organization to face the political year and various security threats. The results of several surveys, including the one by Kompas Research and Development, have ranked the TNI as the institution with the most positive image. Public confidence in Adm. Yudo is also fairly high. The Kompas poll conducted on 12 Dec. 2022 showed that 85.9 percent of respondents were optimistic about the leadership of Adm. Yudo.
Managing public trust is a separate job.
Public trust in the TNI must be maintained. Amidst the revolution in communication technology, the TNI must establish rules on how TNI members use social media in a personal capacity. Are they presenting the institution's voice, or their own? During the political year, the voices on social media, especially from members of the TNI, will help determine the political situation.
We encourage President Jokowi and Adm. Yudo to prepare a Navy Chief of Staff of to replace Yudo. Furthermore, President Jokowi also needs to prepare a new TNI commander to replace Adm. Yudo after he retires in November 2023. The TNI commander who succeeds Yudo will have a strategic role, because he will be overseeing the nation's great contest of the general election on 14 Feb. 2024. That is a constitutional duty.
