PKI Descendants May Be TNI Soldiers, Ex-Chief Bais Asks Selectors To Pay Attention To Ideological Influence

Army Special Forces Soldier. (Antara-Sigid Kurniawan)

JAKARTA - Former Head of the Strategic Intelligence Agency (Bais) Soleman B. Ponto said that there is no prohibition for Indonesian citizens from participating in the selection of TNI soldiers, including children or grandchildren of the descendants of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

This was conveyed by Soleman when he was a resource person in the webinar "Selection of the TNI Underbouw and/or Descendants of the PKI According to Retired Generals" on Monday, April 4.

"To register as a member of the TNI, it does not look at whose child. Anyone, the important thing is an Indonesian citizen, may register," said Soleman.

He explained that this was in accordance with the regulations contained in Article 28 of Law (UU) Number 34 of 2004 concerning the Indonesian National Army (TNI).

"It is very clear in it, there is no requirement that those who may register except PKI descendants are children," he said, as reported by Antara.

According to him, the statement by the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, General TNI Andika Perkasa, which allowed descendants of the PKI to register as prospective soldiers, was in accordance with the provisions of the TNI Law.

Article 28 of the TNI Law states that the general requirements to become a soldier are Indonesian citizens, have faith and fear of God Almighty, be loyal to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution, and be at least 18 years old when inaugurated.

Furthermore, prospective soldiers are also not allowed to have a criminal record based on an official written statement by the Indonesian National Police (Polri), physically and mentally healthy.

Furthermore, not being deprived of the right to become a soldier based on a court decision with permanent legal force, graduating from the first education to form student soldiers to become members of the TNI, as well as other requirements as needed.

With regard to communism in the selection of TNI members, Soleman said the selection team must pay attention to the influence of this ideology on prospective soldiers. The selectors certainly will not pass soldiers who are influenced by communist ideology.

"What is seen is the influence. Starting from the test seen, once the test is seen, education is seen, the level is seen. The influence includes left extremism, right extremism, and other extremism, such as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) and want to rebel. It is monitored continuously and there are tools for surveillance so that the possibility of escape is very small, "he said.