KASAD Dudung Reported To Puspomad, TNI Commander: We Will Follow Up

JAKARTA - The Chief of Army Staff (KASAD) General TNI Dudung Abdurachman was reported by the Coalition of Ulama, Habaib, and Anti-Defamation Lawyers (KUHAP APA) to the TNI AD Military Police Center (Puspomad).

General Dudung is suspected of committing blasphemy for mentioning "God is not an Arab" in a podcast uploaded on Youtube. In this regard, the Head of Rekat Indonesia Raya, Eka Gumilar asked the TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa to facilitate a meeting between the top ranks of the Indonesian Army and the ulema.

According to him, the meeting of the two sides is very important in upholding the ties of friendship to maintain the unity and integrity of the Indonesian nation. "A strong defense of a country is the unity between ulama and umaro," said Eka to reporters, Friday, February 4.

Eka considered that if the TNI Commander facilitated a meeting of high ranking TNI and ulama as a forum for friendship, then it would bring blessings and benefits to the people.

"It is better if all parties are facilitated, including General Dudung, to return to harmony. The pillars of this country are the TNI and the ulama, if the two are not harmonious, this is a danger to this nation," he said.

On the other hand, Eka asked all parties, including the reporter, to take the tabayun route first. According to him, Tabayun is a very important step to find out the intentions and objectives of what General Dudung conveyed. "It would be wiser to see the goal, not just focus on his mistakes. Didn't Pak Dudung say that when he prayed in Indonesian, his prayers of kindness wanted to help other people, maybe Mr. Dudung's delivery method can lead to misinterpretations, but don't forget to see his goals are also good. What's wrong is if we never pray," he said. Eka also asked all parties to continue to uphold the unity and integrity of the nation and avoid things which has the potential to divide the nation.

"The people, the TNI, and the ulama should not be clashed. Our goal is to unite and cool all parties, so that this nation will continue to be peaceful and comfortable," he said.

Previously, the TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa had responded to the report by the Army Chief of Staff General Dudung Abdurachman to the TNI AD Military Police Center (Puspomad).

General Andika said that his party had an obligation to follow up on the report against General Dudung. According to him, Puspomad investigators have taken a series of actions to follow up on the report. "We have started since last Monday," said General Andika.

"We will definitely follow up," he continued.

Andika said that Puspomad investigators had asked for information from the reporter and also confirmed it from several parties.