TNI Commander Allows PKI Descendants To Become Soldiers, Value Observers Do Not Have To Worry

TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa/ PHOTO via Instagram

JAKARTA - Military observer Beni Sukadis believes that the TNI Commander's move to allow descendants of members of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) to register as TNI soldiers is nothing to worry about. He also considered that this policy did not need to be debated because it was still in accordance with the law and legislation.

"I think that the steps taken by the TNI Commander Andika are still at the level of law and regulation. So actually there is no need to worry about it anymore," said Beni when contacted by VOI, Thursday, March 31.

Beni also thought that there was no need to worry too much about the descendants of the PKI who registered as military candidates. This is because they may have different political views from their predecessors.

"This means that those who will register as candidate members (TNI, ed) are already the third generation or grandchildren of descendants of political prisoners or PKI political prisoners," he said.

"So, from the social aspect and influence, maybe the perspective is different," he added.

In addition, the recruitment of the TNI is also carried out in a strict manner in terms of psychology and ideology. This means that excessive concerns regarding the permission of PKI descendants to register as soldiers are deemed irrelevant.

"The question is, what is there to worry about with the entry of their descendants? Because from the TNI recruitment system there is a strict selection in psychological and ideological aspects," he said.

As previously reported, the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, General Andika Perkasa, reminded his staff that the descendants of PKI members should not thwart prospective soldiers in the selection process. The reason is that the decision has no legal basis.

"What is prohibited is the PKI, the second is the teachings of Communism, Marxism, and Leninism. That is what is written," said Andika conveying the contents of the MPRS Decree (TAP) XXV/1966 as broadcast on General TNI Andika Perkasa's YouTube channel reported by Antara, Wednesday, March 30.

Therefore, the TNI Commander asked his staff for the 2022 TNI Soldier recruitment selection committee to delete questions that asked about the kinship relationship between the prospective soldiers and the PKI.

"Don't make it up. I am a person who obeys the laws and regulations. Remember this. We forbid to make sure we have a legal basis," Andika said to her staff.

General Andika Perkasa also ordered the Selection Committee not to make rules and prohibitions that have no legal basis, including those related to the kinship of prospective soldiers with the PKI and the PKI's underbow organizations.

"In my era there were no more descendants (related prohibitions, ed). No, because I used a legal basis," said Andika Perkasa.