The Importance Of DPR's Wanti-wanti On The Neutrality Of TNI Soldiers In The 2024 Presidential Election

Illustration of the 2024 General Election. (Between)

JAKARTA - The parliament's warnings regarding the neutrality of TNI soldiers are considered very important for the conduciveness of the 2024 General Election. Soldiers must stay away from practical politics.

"The attitude of the DPR which reminded the new Army Chief of Staff, General TNI Agus Subiyanto, should have been conveyed straightforwardly," said Military Observer Anton Aliabbas, Friday, October 26.

According to her, the message conveyed by Puan should be used as a reminder for the TNI to uphold professionalism when it comes to helping maintain election security. Anton said that the DPR had played its role in the supervisory function of legislative institutions to the Government as an executive.

"Thus, a clear parliamentary position to ensure that the TNI is consistent in remaining neutral in the 2024 election can be recorded by the public," said the lecturer at the Paramadina University.

The council's move to continue reminding the TNI is also said to represent the people's hope that the election can run peacefully. Puan herself is also considered to be an example for members of the DPR to continue working as representatives of the people, even though the dynamics of political parties are currently high ahead of the February 2024 elections.

"In the midst of the warming political dynamics, the TNI must realize neutrality in politics seriously," said Anton.

"At least this attitude is also expected to be a commitment of political parties in the DPR not to invite the TNI to enter practical political areas," he added.

Furthermore, Anton assessed that the warning from Puan was very important considering the various experiences from the previous election where TNI officers or soldiers were involved in practical politics. He reminded that if active soldiers help win the presidential candidate pair, it would be the TNI's image that would be tarnished.

"If there are active soldiers who play their influence in relation to winning one of the contestants, it will have a new bad impact on military organizations," said Anton.

Regarding the new Army Chief of Staff, the Head of the Center of Intermestic and Diplomatic Engagement (SIDE) also highlighted how General Agus Subiyanto is close to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and his family because he was the Commander of the Presidential Security Forces (Danpaspampres) for the period 2020 to 2021. Anton said that Puan's message was significant.

"Maintaining the neutrality of the TNI is one of the toughest challenges of the new Army Chief of Staff, considering that he has worked in Jokowi's circle for a long time," he said.

As is known, President Jokowi's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, ran as a vice presidential candidate to accompany Prabowo Subianto's presidential candidate, who is a retired TNI soldier. Jokowi himself is considered a king maker who plays a very important role in the 2024 presidential election considering his position as president for two terms.

"So a warning from the DPR is needed, because the legislature must play its role to keep the executive on track," said Anton.

Previously, the Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, emphasized that TNI soldiers should continue to uphold integrity and professionalism, especially in the political year. He conveyed this during the commemoration of the TNI's 78th Anniversary.

"As a pillar of national defense and security, the TNI must be able to maintain integrity and professionalism so that it remains neutral and does not get involved in practical politics," said Puan, Thursday (5/10).

The first woman to serve as Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives assessed that the implementation of the 2024 General Election would be one of the factors to accelerate the nation's steps to realize a Golden Indonesia in 2045. Therefore, Puan requested that the TNI leadership be an example for all its personnel to prioritize the professionalism and integrity of soldiers.

"The TNI leadership must be able to maintain solidity so that none of its members are involved in practical politics. Either directly or indirectly," he said.

Puan's message for neutral TNI soldiers in the general election was also conveyed when welcoming General Agus Subiyanto as the new Army Chief of Staff. He hopes that General Agus can lead the Indonesian Army to help create the implementation of the 2024 General Election so that it can be peaceful.

Although the TNI is tasked with helping maintain the conduciveness of the election, he reminded soldiers to uphold neutrality.

'TNI soldiers should not be involved in practical politics or become a political tool of any group or party. The new Army Chief of Staff needs to ensure that all soldiers understand the role of the TNI in supporting the democratic system in Indonesia and not being involved in practical politics,' said Puan.

"I hope that Army Chief of Staff Agus Subiyanto can keep his subordinates neutral in the upcoming legislative and general elections. Make sure none of the TNI AD soldiers are involved in practical politics and firmly impose sanctions if anyone commits a violation," continued the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.

The same thing was conveyed by Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives as a partner of the TNI. Chairman of Commission I of the House of Representatives, Meutya Hafid, hopes that General Agus can bring TNI AD soldiers to uphold neutrality in relation to the 2024 General Election. Moreover, the replacement of the Army Chief of Staff this time was carried out in the political year.

"The role of the Army Chief of Staff in keeping TNI AD soldiers away from practical politics is very large. TNI soldiers must indeed contribute to the country's democratic system, but the politics carried out is state politics and politics that boils down to the people," said Meutya Hafid, Thursday (26/10).

In the implementation of the democratic party, the TNI is tasked with helping the National Police and election organizers to ensure that the Legislative and Presidential Elections run safely and conducively. However, Meutya reminded that in carrying out this task, TNI soldiers remain professional and maintain integrity to create a safe, orderly and smooth election situation.

The election security operation carried out by the TNI is a form of Military Operations Apart from War (OMSP) that must be carried out professionally by all soldiers. Given that the election process has a very high potential for vulnerability, the TNI must be present for the sake of the country's conduciveness," he explained.

Meutya also asked General Agus to ensure that all his staff understood the duties and obligations in supervising election security. Periodic briefing is considered necessary for the Pangdams to unit commanders.

"Under the leadership of General Agus Subiyanto, I believe the Indonesian Army will continue to stand on its propriety as a soldier by not being involved in practical practices or political activities," concluded Meutya.