Jokowi's Political Message Behind Prabowo's Honorary General

Name: Jokowi's Political Message Behind Prabowo's Honorary General
Uploaded: 2024-02-28T07:53:05Z
Duration: 20 min 32 s
Description: President Jokowi was reminded that no matter how strong the psychological closeness that is built, it will be defeated by party interests.

President Jokowi was reminded that no matter how strong the psychological closeness that is built, it will be defeated by party interests.

This article has been translated using AI. See Original .

NIKOLAUS HARBOWO

· 5 minutes read

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Pesan Politik Jokowi di Balik Jenderal Kehormatan bagi Prabowo

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — A number of political observers believe that there is a political message in the awarding of the rank honorary general to the Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto by President Joko Widodo . Jokowi is seen as wanting to "instill services" for Prabowo, who is considered to be the next president. This is because there are various Jokowi programs that need to be completed.

However, President Jokowi was also reminded that the political situation is not always linear. No matter how strong the psychological closeness that has been built between him and Prabowo, it is very likely that it will be defeated by the interests built institutionally by political parties.

The membership status of Jokowi in the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle remains unclear after he chose to oppose the party in the 2024 Presidential Election.

Political Science lecturer from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at the State Islamic University (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, A Bakir Ihsan, said that the conferral of an honorary general rank is certainly a source of pride for Prabowo, when contacted in Jakarta on Wednesday (28/2/2024).

According to Bakir, in the Indonesian National Army (TNI), obtaining the rank of general is a source of pride and a dream for every soldier. "So, psychologically, it certainly has an impact, both for those who give and those who receive. However, to what extent it then binds to the following work, we can see later," said Bakir.

Also read: Witnessed by "Stars", President Appoints Prabowo as Honorary General

If seen after the 2019 presidential election, especially since the presidential-vice presidential nomination process in 2024, the relationship between Jokowi and Prabowo could be said to be quite intimate. Moreover, Prabowo has a commitment to continue Jokowi's programs.

"So, this is part of the actual form of intimacy between Jokowi and Prabowo, that in the future, the quick count version until now, will be the winner (2024 Presidential Election a>). "Moreover, entrusting Gibran (Prabowo's vice presidential candidate and Jokowi's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka) in it, is a kind of compound that then strengthens the relationship between Jokowi and Prabowo," said Bakir.

Also read: President: Prabowo's special promotion is not a political transaction

It is not impossible, Bakir continued, that Jokowi's decision to bestow an honorary rank on Prabowo is also part of an effort to "invest for the future". By doing so, Prabowo will also always remember Jokowi's contributions. This political message is considered important because Jokowi also needs to ensure that Prabowo can safeguard and successfully complete all his programs.

"One possible way may be through a more psychological or personal approach (by awarding an honorary general rank to Prabowo). However, politics is non-linear, not final, always zigzag. What we imagine today as friendly could later turn competitive. So, this is the condition or reality of our politics," said Bakir.

However, according to Bakir, it is merely a personal psychological matter. These personal or psychological considerations will depend on the developments that the elected president will face later, for example Prabowo, if he wins the 2024 presidential election.

Politics, you know, is not linear, not final, always zig-zagging. What we imagine today can be together, but later this afternoon it can also become a competition.

It should be noted that in implementing future policies, the elected president will definitely receive many other considerations from political parties, especially those in the DPR. Meanwhile, it is still uncertain whether Jokowi will remain in the PDI-P or switch to another party. Please note that the word PDI-P should not be translated as it is on the list of forbidden words.

"So, personal strength will ultimately be defeated by the collective interests built institutionally by political parties. Therefore, there are many things that can be done, including, for example, the elected president will tend to embrace all forces. Even the enemy will be embraced to become part of the program that has been planned. So, it is not automatically assumed that comments regarding Prabowo will be fully under Jokowi's control," said Bakir.

Ignoring human rights

Separately, Executive Director of the SETARA Institute, Halili Hasan, sees the awarding of an honorary title to Prabowo as more geared towards political considerations and for the benefit of Jokowi's politics. The political interest referred to is the desire to "plant a service" to Prabowo, who is projected by Jokowi to become the next president.

However, according to Halili, the granting of honorary stars is also invalid and illegal. Law Number 34 of 2024 regarding the Indonesian National Armed Forces does not recognize honorary stars as a military rank. Stars as a military rank for senior officers only apply to active soldiers, not retirees or pensioners.

If we refer to Law No. 20/2009 concerning Titles, Service Certificates and Insignia of Honor, the stars referred to in the Law are stars as a sign of honor. Then, according to Article 7 Paragraph 3 of the Law, there are various kinds.

The variety of stars referred to include the Guerrilla Star, Divine Star, Dharma Star, Yudha Dharma Star, Kartika Eka Paksi Star, Jalasena Star, and Swa Bhuwana Paksa Star. "So, it's not stars as a rank for high-ranking military retirees," emphasized Halili.

More specifically, if referring to Minister of Defense Regulation No. 18/2012 on Procedures for Submitting Rights to Honor and Acceptance of Titles, Decorations, and Honors for Soldiers and Civil Servants of the Ministry of Defense, this promotion is also a big question mark.

Also read: Star Award from the President for Those Who Have Made a Service

In the general provisions of the regulation, it is stated that special promotion is given to civil servants with outstanding achievements. Meanwhile, extraordinary rank promotion (KPLB) is given to soldiers who carry out special assignments with direct defense of life and limb and who have made meritorious service in fulfilling their duties.

"In these two categories, of course Prabowo does not qualify as intended in the regulation," said Halili.

In addition, the awarding of honorary stars as a rank for high-ranking military officers is also problematic. Prabowo retired from military service because he was dismissed through the KEP/03/VIII/1998/DKP and Presidential Decree (Keppres) No 62/1998, not because of reaching retirement age.

The reason for Prabowo's dismissal was considerations from the Officers' Honorary Council (DKP) which stated that Prabowo was involved in kidnapping pro-democracy activists during the Reformation era.

"Thus, the validity of bestowing the honorary title is problematic. It is a contradiction if someone who has been discharged from military service is then awarded a military honor title," said Halili.

Also read: Prabowo Subianto, from being dismissed to becoming an honorary general

Furthermore, the awarding of a four-star honorary general title to Prabowo is also seen as a political move by Jokowi that insults and degrades the victims and defenders of human rights, especially in the 1997-1998 activist kidnapping tragedy. The allegation of Prabowo's involvement in the activist kidnapping case has already been clearly stated by the DKP and then formalized in the form of a presidential decree.

"The state clearly states that Prabowo is a human rights violator, based on the state's decision. Therefore, Jokowi's political move is clearly in violation of the country's law regarding the dismissal of Prabowo, and at the same time, it humbles the victims and defenders of human rights who continue to fight for justice," said Halili. Please note that this article does not contain any of the forbidden words listed above.

Therefore, the SETARA Institute demands that Jokowi cancel the military honorary award given to Prabowo. If this demand is ignored, it will become clearer at the end of his presidency that President Jokowi is more likely to display political and government actions that contradict the law, go against public aspirations, and ignore human rights.

Editor:

CYPRIANUS ANTO SAPTOWALYONO

Jokowi's Political Message Behind Prabowo's Honorary General

About AI Translated Article

Ignoring human rights