Prabowo replaces 300 TNI generals, rising military star of Jokowi era dismissed

Suara.com – three hundred General TNI transferred early in the president's administration Prabowo Subianto. Some of them are generals considered close to 7th President Joko Widodo or Jokowi. On the other hand, Prabowo began to place his relatives in strategic positions within the TNI. What is the interest behind this?

MUTATION The 300 TNI generals are listed in the TNI Commander's Decree number: Kep/1545/XII/2024 dated December 6, 2024 regarding dismissal and appointment to positions in the environment. Indonesian National Army. In the document, one of the names transferred is the Commander of the Army Doctrine, Education and Training Command or Dankodiklatad, Lieutenant General Widi Prasetijono. The former collaborator of Jokowi and Danrem 074/Warastratama was transferred to become a permanent professor at the Defense University (Unhan).

Lt. Gen. Mohammad Hasan, who was previously commander of the Army Strategic Reserve Command or Pangkostrad, was also transferred to Dankodiklatad. Hasan is known to be close to Jokowi as he served as commander of Group A Paspampres 2016-2018.

Meanwhile, the post of Kostrad commander will be occupied by Lieutenant General Mohammad Fadjar. This high-ranking TNI AD officer served as Director General of Defense Potential at the Ministry of Defense in 2023-2024, headed by Prabowo. His last position before being promoted to Kostrad Commander was as Commander of the TNI Doctrine Development, Education and Training Command or Dankodiklat TNI.

People close to Prabowo who also received promotions to strategic positions within the TNI were Lt. Gen. Nugroho Sulistyo Budi, Maj. Gen. R Sidharta Wisnu Graha, and Maj. Gen. Iwan Setiawan. Lieutenant General Nugroho is a former member of Team Mawar. He received a promotion to the position of head of the National Cybersecurity and Cryptography Agency (BSSN) replacing Lieutenant General (retd) Hinsa Siburian.

Meanwhile, Major General Vishnu was previously the Governor of the Military Academy or Akmil. After “successfully” organizing a Red and White Cabinet retreat at the Magelang Military Academy in Central Java, the 1991 Military Academy graduate received a promotion and promotion to a higher level as as principal inspector of the BIN replacing Lieutenant General Nugroho.

Meanwhile, Major General Iwan was promoted to Commander of the Infantry Weapons Center or Danpussenif. The 56-year-old born in Soreang, Bandung, West Java, who previously served as Pangdam XII/Tanjungpura, will also receive a one-level promotion to lieutenant general.

Major General Iwan is not new to Prabowo's circle. In 1997, when Prabowo was still Commander General of the Special Forces Command or Danjen Kopassus, he assigned Major General Iwan to carry out a mission to raise the red and white flag atop Mount Everest to commemorate the 45th Kopassus birthday.

National University (UNAS) political and military observer Selamat Ginting believes that the transfer of a number of TNI generals is an attempt by Prabowo to slowly displace people considered to have power relations with Jokowi .

“The transfer of high-ranking military officers is an interesting series to watch. Because if you look at the rising stars of the army during the Jokowi era, this time they have bounced back,” Selamat told Suara.comWednesday (11/12/2024).

On the other hand, Selamat said, Prabowo is starting to place his relatives in strategic positions. He cited among them Lieutenant General Fadjar and Major General Iwan.

“Several three-stars have started to be occupied by people who have power relations with President Prabowo and not with Jokowi,” he said.

After the TNI, Selamat predicts that in the near future large-scale changes will also occur within the National Police.

Consolidation and reorientation of command

Military observer and co-founder of the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISESS), Khairul Fahmi, has effectively assessed the situation. rotation The TNI's 300 generals are part of Prabowo's consolidation as supreme commander. This measure, he explained, is usually taken at the start of a new government in order to align the internal dynamics of the TNI with political and national defense priorities. In addition to also ensuring that the personalities in office are in line with Prabowo's strategic vision and policies.

Khairul also highlighted the reorientation of command models. Where the position of Commander of the Joint Regional Defense Command or Pangkogabwilhan I, traditionally held by the TNI (AL) Navy, is now occupied by Major General Kunto Arief Wibowo of the TNI (AD) Army. He replaces Admiral Rachmad Jayadi who was transferred to become a senior officer or headquarters Pati of the Indonesian Navy in order to retire.

Khairul said the decision to place Pati TNI AD under the name Pangkogabwilhan I was a model change that reflected new flexibility in the command structure.

“Filling strategic positions now seems to focus more on operational needs and long-term vision, rather than just following traditional models based on dimensions,” Khairul told Suara.comWednesday (11/12).

The Pangkogabwilhan I station, whose work area covers the North Natuna Sea, was previously always entrusted to the Indonesian Navy. Considering that his area of ​​work is located in a strategic area with potential for conflict related to the South China Sea dispute. Khairul believed that the command's reorientation to the Pangkogabwilhan I position reflects the need for a new approach to confronting the region's challenges.

Furthermore, according to Khairul, the transfer of hundreds of generals within the TNI is a sign of the start of a broader strategic consolidation process aimed at laying the foundations for national defense so that it is stable and more responsive to challenges. . However, he stressed that this must also be done while respecting the principles of professionalism, accountability and integrity.

“So that the TNI remains a strong institution and enjoys the trust of all Indonesians,” he said.

Only loyal to the country

Member of Commission I DPR RI, TB Hasanuddin also responded to the transfer and rotation of positions of 300 generals in the TNI. He considered this change as a form of refreshment to meet the challenges of the task and regenerate leadership.

TB Hasanuddin said TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto previously regularly transferred hundreds of officers.

“So if there are now 300 transfers, it's not a big deal, because there are still many positions that have been filled for more than a year and there has been no change,” TB said Hasanuddin to reporters on Wednesday (12/11).

As a retired TNI general, TB Hasanuddin affirms and believes that the transfer process carried out by the TNI Commander has definitely undergone careful consideration with no other objective than the aspect of regeneration and development career of officers. He also believes that it has nothing to do with efforts to overthrow people considered close to Jokowi.

“In my opinion, the TNI has nothing to do with supporting the president, the TNI is only loyal to the country,” he concluded.