Army Chief Of Staff General Dudung's Message To Effendi Simbolon: Don't Talk Nonsense, TNI Has Dignity

Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Dudung Abdurachman/Via ANTARA

PEKANBARU - The Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General TNI Dudung Abdurachman, asked his staff to stop protesting openly to DPR Commission I member Effendi Simbolon. Effendi Simbolon was previously protested for calling "TNI gangs".

"I emphasize to all soldiers, I see on social media that many have expressed their anger. I ask for it to stop, enough, he has apologized today," General Dudung told reporters in Bengkalis, Riau, as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, September 14.

The Army Chief of Staff said that the TNI would remain solid, although some said that his relationship with his superior, the TNI commander, was not good.

"The TNI, in general, remains solid, there are no differences. If I and Mr. Andika there is a slight dispute, it's normal, differences are normal. Old officials and new officials are normal," he said.

General Dudung said that Effendi Simbolon had constitutional rights as a member of the DPR.

"But we, the Indonesian Army, have honor and dignity. This cannot be disturbed. The TNI AD carries out tasks both in the area of ​​operation and in other places helping the people," he continued.

He also believes that what Effendi Simbolon said did not represent the DPR, let alone the political party where he belongs, namely PDI-P, which is the current ruling party.

"As far as I know, the PDI struggle is also very close to the TNI AD and the attention of the underprivileged members of Commission I (DPR) is all good. Because so far good things have been conveyed. If it's stated that TNI AD is like a gang, worse than a mass organization, it really hurts me," said the Army Chief of Staff.

"So if you don't know, don't understand the facts, the actual evidence, then Mr. Effendi Simbolon should not just talk. It should be comprehensive when receiving reports, revealing and so on, not being swallowed up, this is dangerous," added General Dudung.