Netrality Of Dead Prices, Army Chief Of Staff Dudung Asks Retired TNI Not To Seduce Active Soldiers Taking Sides In The 2024 Election

Army Chief of Staff General TNI Dudung Abdurachman when giving a statement at the TNI AD Headquarters, Jakarta, Tuesday (5/9/2023). (ANTARA/Genta Tenri Mawangi)

JAKARTA - Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Dudung Abdurachman reminded soldiers not to try to side with presidential and vice presidential candidates as well as legislative candidates ahead and during the 2024 election. Dudung emphasized that the TNI, including the TNI AD, must remain neutral. This means that it does not side and does not support anyone who runs for the 2024 General Election and the 2024 Regional Head Election. "What is clear is that I have conveyed to all ranks, preparations in the context of the 2024 General Election, to the Kodam, Kodim, Koramil, that they adhere to neutrality. Don't let anyone try to side with one of the candidates," said Dudung at the Indonesian Army Headquarters, Jakarta, Antara, Tuesday, August 5. He emphasized that TNI AD soldiers must be upright in the direction of the TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono and President Joko Widodo that TNI soldiers and ASN must be neutral in the election. "I am upright, my loyalty to the TNI commander, to the president, yes, we must be neutral," said Dudung. On the same occasion, he also asked the retired TNI not to influence his juniors who are still active as soldiers in supporting one of the candidates. "I see that there are retired support-supporters, please, it (they) personally; but don't try to disturb active soldiers so that it affects them in supporting one of the candidates," he said. Dudung once asked retired people not to use unit attributes, either in the form of badges, locations, or berets, when carrying out political activities, because it has the potential to get a wrong understanding from the public. The use of TNI attributes for soldiers who have been honorably dismissed, namely resigning or retired, is regulated in the Telegram Letter of the TNI Commander Number: 1681/2018 and Kasad Telegram Letter Number: 33/2019 concerning the Use of Political Rights.

Dudung said the neutrality of the TNI is a non-negotiable fixed price. The TNI AD is committed not to be involved in practical politics, either institutionally, personally, or in the use of TNI AD facilities and infrastructure.