TNI Doesn't Have Coup DNA, Boni Hargens Denies Ferry Irwandi's Allegation

Illustration of the TNI (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - A number of people strongly criticized social media activist Ferry Irwandi who accused the TNI of rolling out a discourse on an attempt to create a military emergency in a mass action that began on August 25, 2025.

One of them came from political analysts and intelligence issues Boni Hargens who considered Ferry Irwandi's accusations to be vulgar and provocative. In fact, said Boni, the TNI is already professional and mature in democracy.

"Our TNI has learned from the past. They have matured in democracy," said Boni in his statement, Monday, September 8.

Boni did not deny that there was a group of illegal passengers playing in the mass action. It's just that Boni firmly denied that there was TNI involvement in the issue.

TNI kita tidak memiliki DNA kudeta politik dalam sejarah Indonesia. Tidak ada satu peristiwa yang mesinal adanya peristiwa kudeta politik oleh militer dalam sejarah Indonesia sejak kebebasan tahun 1945," ungkap Boni.

"Even what General Nasution and his troops did in 1952 in front of President Sukarno's Palace, which by foreign observers was considered a coup attempt, was not a coup attempt like in Thailand, the Philippines, or Myanmar, but a statement of disappointment from the TNI at that time because they saw political corruption in parliament which was so widespread and suffering the people," explained Boni. added.

Furthermore, Boni said the TNI was very professional. Boni also reminded the importance of following up on the provocation that Ferry conveyed is important to explore by any intelligence community to prevent the creation of wrong perceptions in the minds of the community.

"Besides being false, Ferry's accusations are a serious form of provocation. For this reason, the intelligence community needs to explore the allegations by collecting objective and comprehensive information," said the founder of the Indonesian Voters Institute (LPI).

In line with Boni, former Head of the Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) Soleman Ponto also strongly criticized Ferry Irwandi's statement about the TNI. According to Ponto, Ferry's statement was an opinion activist and manipulated the facts because it deliberately formed a wrong public perception about the TNI.

" Ferry's statement is a form of provocation that has the potential to damage the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) and damage the image of the TNI as an institution," said Ponto.

Ponto also encouraged law enforcement officials to immediately take firm action against Ferry's statement. This is important in order to maintain the authority of the TNI, national security and national unity.