TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The recent replacement of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander is a good time to again stress the true role of the military in a democracy. As an instrument of the State, whose main task is to safeguard the nation's security and sovereignty, the TNI should never get involved in day-to-day politics, including by throwing its support behind a president who selects its new commander. The new Commander must ensure the pendulum of history does not swing back to a past era when the military was the tool of those in power.

This process of replacing the Commander went through the House of Representatives (DPR) last week. President Joko Widodo put forward Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto as the sole candidate. His ‘fit-and-proper’ test at the DPR on December 6 proceeded smoothly. After the test, held in a closed session, the DPR Defense Commission concluded that the Marshal was suitable to be made Armed Forces Commander.

There was a formal basis for why Hadi was chosen. Apart from the grounds of his competency, President Jokowi was continuing the tradition that the position of Commander should be held in turn by a representative of each of the Armed Forces’ branches. After Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, who represented the Army, it is now the turn of Marshal Hadi from the Air Force to occupy the military’s highest rank. This tradition, which is not obligatory under Law No. 34/2004 about TNI, began during Yudhoyono’s term as president.

Apart from the formal grounds for choosing him, another factor is Hadi’s closeness to Jokowi. The President has known him for quite a while. Hadi commanded the Adi Soemarmo Airbase in Solo from 2010 to 2011 when Jokowi was that city’s mayor. When Jokowi became president, he was appointed as the President’s Military Secretary from 2015 to 2016.

Hadi’s appointment as Armed Forces Commander because of a personal friendship is legitimate. Jokowi naturally wants to ensure that all his policies are carried out effectively. Nevertheless, their friendship will be a test for Hadi. He needs to convince the public that he can lead the TNI as a state apparatus that stays neutral, and is not politically-oriented in any direction.

Hadi must not repeat the mistakes of his predecessor. While he was TNI Commander, many say that Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo did not maintain a safe distance during several political incidents. When conservative Islamic groups demonstrated at the National Monument (Monas) opposing the candidacy of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama as Jakarta Governor, Gatot was present wearing a white peci cap, standing beside Jokowi. Although the General argued it was just his way of approaching the mob, it was inevitable that he gave the impression he was attempting to gain the demonstrators’ sympathy.

We have also not yet forgotten the ensuing uproar after his various controversial statements and actions. At the beginning of this year, he terminated a military training collaboration with the Australian Armed Forces. He said he did that based on a report on teaching materials there which he considered as belittling the state ideology, Pancasila. Gatot appeared not to know that terminating any cooperative relationship with another country is outside the authority of the Commander.

The same went for his statement about the National Police and State Intelligence Agency’s purchase of 5,000 weapons. Moreover, even nearing the end of his term, Gatot has continued his maneuvering. While the process of his replacement was ongoing, he switched around 85 high-ranking officers. That action truly exceeded his authority, because, as a government official about to be replaced, he was not entitled to make any strategic decisions.

Steering clear of the to-and-fro pulls of political interests will prove a difficult challenge for Hadi. The beginning of his assignment is likely to be served while the political climate is heating up. In April 2018 the simultaneous elections of regional heads will be held in most parts of Indonesia. A year later, an even bigger political celebration will take place with the general elections of both the legislative arm and the president.

Hadi must be able to deal with all that, in addition to the military’s ongoing serious cliché problems, namely its limited budget and the need to continue to improve the professionalism of its personnel.

Read the full article in this week's edition of Tempo English Magazine