Hasto Criticizes Prabowo's Promotion: Contrary To Reform

PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto at the PDIP DPP Office, Menteng, Central Jakarta, Friday, December 15. (Tsa Tsia-VOI)

Secretary General of the PDI-P (PDIP) Hasto Kristiyanto assessed that the granting of the rank of honorary general to the Minister of Defense (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto contradicted the facts that occurred before the 1998 reforms. He said, at that time there were a number of incidents including mass riots.

"Giving titles and honorary rank of course touches things that are very fundamental and contradict all the facts found that started the democratic process," Hasto told reporters in Jakarta, Wednesday, February 28.

Meanwhile, PDIP politician TB Hasanudin said that the awarding of the rank of honor was inappropriate. The TNI Law and the Law on Service and Honorary Certificates stated that only active TNI officers may be added to their ranks while Prabowo is declared inactive.

"A high-ranking officer was dismissed by the Presidential Decree. So if he gives him another new rank, he must revoke the old Presidential Decree and issue a new Presidential Decree again," said TB Hasanudin at the same location.

Prabowo was previously dismissed as a high-ranking TNI officer for allegedly being involved in the kidnapping of activists in 1998. "So it doesn't necessarily make new rules. So all the rules in this republic please adjust to the rules of the law made by both the government and the DPR RI representing the people," he said.

As previously reported, President Jokowi raised the rank of four-star general to Prabowo Subianto during the 2024 TNI/Polri Leadership Meeting. He is considered to have contributed to the nation's development, especially in the field of defense and security.

"I would like to convey the awarding of a special rank in the form of an honorary TNI General to Mr. Prabowo Subianto. This award is a form of appreciation as well as affirmation to fully serve the people, to the nation, and to the state," said President Jokowi at the time.

After the activity, President Jokowi denied that the special promotion for Prabowo was part of a political transaction. "This is after the election so that there are no such assumptions," he told reporters, Wednesday, February 28.

Another story will be if the promotion is carried out before the election, said Jokowi. Moreover, the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono once gave a similar promotion to Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who is now the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves).

"This is something that is commonplace in the TNI and in the Police," he concluded.