TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Military said today it will impose strict sanction on soldiers who are proven to involve in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transsexual or Transgender (LGBT) groups. Earlier, rumors circulated that the groups exist within the armed forces.

“The TNI applies strict sanctions to soldiers who are proven to have violated the moral law, including LGBT,” said the military spokesperson Col. Sus Aidil in a written statement, Thursday, October 15.

Aidil explained that the TNI Commander had issued a telegram No. ST/398/2009 on July 22, 2009, and it was asserted again through a telegram No. ST/1648/2019 on October 22, 2019, that LGBT is one of the immoral acts.

“It is against the military discipline and a serious violation that must not occur within the TNI,” Aidil remarked.

According to the military spokesperson, the legal process will be strictly applied and there will be an additional sanction of dismissal through a military court. Aidil said the Law No. 34 of 2004 on the TNI noted that soldiers can be dismissed dishonorably if they are found to have a personality or commit acts that are harmful to the TNI discipline.

News about the existence of LGBT groups in the Indonesian armed force brought up by the Head of the Supreme Court Military Affairs Chamber, May. Gen. (ret.) Burhan Dahlan during a discussion.

Burhan said that the Army Headquarters expressed their concern about the LGBT development within the military and the police. “The group’s leader is a sergeant, with members containing lieutenant colonels. This is unique, but this is indeed the reality,” he said.

Read: Komnas HAM Urges Depok to Revoke LGBT Raids Policy

EGI ADYATAMA