Komnas HAM Supports General Andika About PKI Descendants May Join The TNI, Requests This To Be Implemented In Other Government Institutions

Komnas HAM Commissioner Beka Ulung Hapsara (DOK VOI/Rizkt AP)

JAKARTA - The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) supports TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa's move to allow descendants of members of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) to become soldiers.

Komnas HAM Commissioner Beka Ulung Hapsara said the policy should be implemented in other government agencies or institutions. Because every citizen has the same rights regardless of their background.

"Policies like this must also be implemented in other government institutions or institutions that still apply the old ways. Every citizen has the same right to participate in government and development," said Beka when contacted by VOI, Thursday, March 31.

Beka said that Komnas HAM will fully support this decision. Apart from providing equality, what Andika decided was part of restoring the rights of the victim and the victim's family.

After all, it is time for all parties to remove the stigma and discrimination experienced by the descendants of the PKI. Because, this kind of thing often makes them traumatized and socially marginalized.

"From the perspective of victims and their families, policies like this are part of restoring the rights of victims and their families, especially the right to be free from stigma and discrimination," he stressed.

"It's time for us to together remove the stigma and discrimination that often evoke trauma and marginalize them socially and government," added Beka.

Furthermore, Komnas HAM is also confident that this policy will not allow the TNI to be infiltrated with an understanding that is not in accordance with the state's basis. Beka assessed that there must be an internal mechanism in the process of accepting military recruits so that the public need not worry.

"We believe that the TNI has an internal mechanism to carry out the commander's policy while at the same time responding to existing concerns," he said.

As previously reported, the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, General Andika Perkasa, reminded his staff that the descendants of PKI members should not thwart prospective soldiers in the selection process. The reason is that the decision has no legal basis.

"What is prohibited is the PKI, the second is the teachings of Communism, Marxism, and Leninism. That is what is written," said Andika conveying the contents of the MPRS Decree (TAP) XXV/1966 as broadcast on General TNI Andika Perkasa's YouTube channel reported by Antara, Wednesday, March 30.

Therefore, the TNI Commander asked his staff for the 2022 TNI Soldier recruitment selection committee to delete questions that asked about the kinship relationship between the prospective soldiers and the PKI.

"Don't make it up. I am a person who obeys the laws and regulations. Remember this. We forbid to make sure we have a legal basis," Andika said to her staff.

General Andika Perkasa also ordered the Selection Committee not to make rules and prohibitions that have no legal basis, including those related to the kinship of prospective soldiers with the PKI and the PKI's underbow organizations.

"In my era there were no more descendants (related prohibitions, ed). No, because I used a legal basis," said Andika Perkasa.