Internal Consolidation Becomes General Andika Perkasa's Important Task After Being Inaugurated As TNI Commander

KSAD General Andika Perkasa (Photo: tniad.mil.id)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has appointed Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Andika Perkasa as the sole candidate for the TNI Commander to replace Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto who will retire this year. Furthermore, Andika was deemed necessary to carry out internal consolidation, especially since his appointment was deemed to have made the TNI AD even more domineering.

The confirmation of Andika Perkasa's election as a candidate for TNI Commander was read out by the Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, after receiving a presidential letter delivered by the Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) Pratikno. Before reading out the name chosen by President Jokowi, he said there was only one candidate for commander in chief.

"The president proposes only one candidate for approval," said Puan at the DPR RI Building, Wednesday, November 3.

"KSAD General Andika Perkasa," he added.

After his name was announced, Andika would then run a fit and proper test before finally being sworn in to replace Hadi Tjahjanto.

Then what is the PR for Andika after serving as TNI Commander?

Imparsial Director Gufron Mabruri assessed that Andika should start internal consolidation to strengthen stability between dimensions within the TNI. Moreover, his appointment as the sole candidate is considered to dominate the land dimension where rotation should occur.

For information, before the position of Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces was held by Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, two generals from the Indonesian Army had held this position. They are General Retired. Moeldoko and General Retired. Gatot Nurmantyo.

"The TNI has homework to fix, one of which is internal consolidation which is important to do in addition to other improvements," Gufron told reporters.

Apart from that, there is other homework to be done. Ghufron said, about violence against civil society, accountability, law enforcement, and conflicts over land between the community and the military should be a concern for Andika after she is sworn in.

However, he dismissed this task as having to be done by Andika himself. The reason is that Ghufron thinks that all parties must work together.

"Those are some things that must be resolved and in this context, the President and the Indonesian House of Representatives must certainly participate in pushing for the homework to be completed," he concluded.