JAKARTA: Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Agus Subiyanto (pic) reaffirmed the armed force’s commitment to have its officers resign from active duty if they intend to serve in civilian posts, amid controversy and concern over rising militarism under President Prabowo Subianto’s administration.
“Active TNI soldiers who are serving in any ministries or other institutions will retire early or resign from active military service, as mandated by Article 47 of the TNI Law,” Agus said on Monday (March 10).
He referred to an article of the 2004 law that prohibits military officers on active duty from holding civilian offices, unless they retire or resign before taking up their positions. Exceptions can be made for posts related to defence, security and intelligence, based on requests made by the respective heads of the civilian offices.
Agus made the statement several weeks after he issued a decree mandating an accelerated promotion for active military officer and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. The decree paved the way for the Army headquarters to issue a directive on Teddy’s promotion from major to lieutenant colonel.
Teddy was awarded the promotion despite being appointed as cabinet secretary when Prabowo was inaugurated president in 2024.
Teddy’s promotion, along with the appointment of the Army’s Maj. Gen. Novi Helmy Prasetya as the new president director of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) that controls national rice reserves, has sparked concern among observers of militarism that might violate the TNI Law.
The increasing number of military personnel sitting in civilian positions occurs as the House of Representatives is working on the revision of the TNI Law. Analysts have argued that the revision could bring back the military’s "dwifungsi" (dual function) that legally allows active TNI officers to hold civilian government and business posts, a practice that was rampant during the New Order era under former president Suharto.
A study by human rights group Imparsial conducted in 2023 found more than 2,500 active military personnel occupying civilian posts, which violates the prevailing law. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
