TNI Commander Responds To Soldier Violence Cases: Report To Me, Will Be Punished

JAKARTA - The TNI (Army) Commander, General Andika Perkasa, ensured that any personnel involved in acts of violence with civilians or members of other institutions will continue to be legally processed according to the applicable law.

"Report it to me, I will make sure we will enforce the law. I promise we will help investigate if there is any involvement", said General Andika Perkasa, in Ambon, Maluku, quoted by Antara, Thursday, December 9.

The TNI Commander said cases of violence involving members of the TNI, whether in the army, sea or air, with civilians and other institutions, would still be legally resolved by the police, courts and prosecutors.

Andika gave an example of a fight involving a member of the TNI Kodam XVI/Pattimura and two Ambon Police personnel who were controlling traffic flow in the Mardika area last November, which is currently in the legal process.

"Now the process is ongoing, including the one in Ambon. We have agreed, because of that the regional police chief and regional commanders have also processed the law, so there is no longer just like that, not only peace and all kinds of things to avoid legal processes", he said.

According to Andika, the TNI and Police are law enforcement institutions that have the authority to use firearms, so it is necessary to ensure that the officers at the two security and legal institutions, from the lower to the upper levels, consider carefully before engaging in acts of violence.

That way, they will not act according to their emotions and personal interests.

"We have to make sure that all of our officers from the lowest to the top have careful consideration in using violence, it cannot be carelessly in a personal or emotional context, therefore we will have to process it legally", he said.

The TNI commander said that the recruitment of members of the Army, Navy, and Air Force in Maluku was handled by the chiefs of staff of each institution, with the amount adjusted to the quota set by the Ministry of Defense.

For the Army, the acceptance of new members is mapped based on the number of Kodim personnel in one district/city. The standard of medical, physical and psychological tests for the acceptance of non-commissioned and enlisted candidates in areas that tend to be left behind is adjusted to the conditions of the region.

"In terms of numbers, nationally it cannot be separated from the decision of the Minister of Defense for the number of officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted personnel who may enter each year for strength development, we only accept the number", he said.

The TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa was in Ambon for two days to carry out several agenda activities, one of which was to review the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination activity at Merdeka Square.