Commander: TNI Attributes Are Not Allowed For Campaigns Including Retired

TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono/ANTARA/Genta Tenri Mawangi.

TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono emphasized that the TNI's attributes should not be in the interest of a political party campaign by soldiers, civil servants, and retired TNI.

"So for the TNI that nominates (self as a member) of the legislature, nominating it, campaigning, is not allowed. It is not allowed to use TNI attributes. TNI attributes mean what, there are uniforms, official cars, facilities, and facilities and infrastructure. Attributes are temporarily not allowed," said the TNI Commander in response to questions from Pangdam II/Sriwijaya Major General Yanuar Adil during a technical guidance meeting related to the neutrality of the TNI in the 2024 General Election at the TNI Headquarters, Cilangkap, Jakarta, reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, September 12.

During the meeting, Pangdam II/Sriwijaya reported that in their area there were retired TNI officers who ran as candidates for legislative members and he used the TNI's attributes to campaign.

"The photo is attached with complete attributes. Our steps are temporarily conveying (it) to Dandim to convey it to Bawaslu, then to his party. It has been running for about 1.5 weeks. However, from there there there has been no reaction about billboards still using complete attributes," said Pangdam II/Sriwijaya to the TNI Commander.

Admiral Yudo emphasized that in principle retired people also cannot use the TNI's attributes in their political activities, including for campaigns.

The Commander asked his staff to take humanitarian steps first if they found the use of the TNI's attributes for the campaign.

If the request is not verbally fulfilled, the Commander instructs his staff to revoke billboards or retired campaign posters that still show TNI attributes.

"Once, twice, three times (notified about the rules for using attributes, ed.), yes, forced," said Yudo.

In addition, the TNI Commander will also write to retired associations regarding the rules and prohibitions on using TNI's attributes for the benefit of political parties and campaigns.

"I will later write a letter so that how these retired people carry out campaigns, participate in certain parties, including not being allowed to use official plates even though they are entitled to also use official plates (vehicles) if they meet the provisions of their vehicles. However, it should not be used to carry out campaigns, attend campaigns or party activities," said Yudo.