Democrat Party Says TNI Commander Has Made Political Maneuver

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Democrat Party Deputy Secretary General Rachland Nashidik said that the National Armed Forces (TNI) Commander Gatot Nurmantyo has made a political maneuver and breached the code of conduct and the laws.

Rachland said that TNI Commander Gatot Nurmantyo had leaked intelligence data following his remarks that institutions outside the military had planned to buy 5,000 guns using President Joko Widodo’s name.

He said that the TNI commander should have never leaked sensitive intelligence data to the public. Instead, he should report it to the President or the House of Representatives (DPR).

“Not to senior or retired personnel of the TNI in an event covered by journalists that could be seen as an attempt to mobilize support for his political maneuver,” Rachland said.

Moreover, the fundamental mistake of the TNI commander is threatening to attack the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) and the National Police over the planned arms deal.

Back in 2000, deliberations on a draft bill were heating up over who would be in charge of military mobilization. The public highlighted the controversial draft bill article that would allow the TNI commander to mobilize the military by informing the president within a day.

The DPR later dropped the article and passed the law that puts the TNI under the president and gives the latter a sole authority to mobilize the military.

Rachland said that TNI Commander Gatot Nurmantyo has overstepped his authority and violated the laws by threatening to ‘attack’ BIN and the National Police.

ANDITA RAHMAN