General Andika Allows PKI Descendants To Become TNI, PDIP Legislator: The Loyalty Requirement Is Important

Member of Commission I DPR RI TB Hasanuddin. (Photo: Oji/nvl via dpr.go.id)

JAKARTA - The TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa has changed the rules for the selection of candidates for TNI soldiers. He allowed descendants of members of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) to register as candidates for TNI soldiers. Responding to this, Member of Commission I of the DPR from the PDIP Faction, TB Hasanuddin, assessed that General Andika's steps were correct. However, according to him, being loyal to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is the main requirement.

"The point is that we just stick to the rules regarding the requirements to become a TNI soldier as enshrined in Law No. 34 of 2004 concerning the TNI," Hasanuddin told VOI, Thursday, March 31.

Hasanuddin also explained, in Article 28 paragraph (1), the TNI Law states that the general requirements to become a soldier are (a) Indonesian citizens; (b) believe and fear God Almighty; (c) loyal to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia; (d) at the time of being appointed a soldier, the minimum age is 18 years; (e) do not have a criminal record issued in writing by the Indonesian National Police; (f) physically and mentally healthy; (g) not being deprived of the right to become a soldier based on a court decision that has obtained permanent legal force; (h) pass the first education to form student soldiers to become members of the TNI; and (I) other requirements as needed. From the article, said Hasanuddin, it is clear and clear that the general requirement to become a TNI soldier is that one must be loyal to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.

"The issue of registrants for the selection of TNI soldiers is descended from banned organizations such as the PKI or other radical organizations, in my opinion, there is no need to argue for too long," he said. The point, Hasanuddin added, is that these conditions are binding on the registrant, not their ancestors. So it is the registrant who must prove that he is loyal to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.

"The condition of loyalty to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia is important because later these TNI soldiers will become a means of state defense that is subject to state politics wherever they are assigned," said Hasanuddin.