This hand-picked selection of military leaders results in strong political control over the military, particularly in maintaining TNI’s neutrality prior to the local elections this year and, most importantly, next year’s presidential election.
he selection of Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, the former air force chief, as the 20th military commander has sparked little public controversy. The low-profile general had long been predicted to reach the position because of his longstanding relationship with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
Jokowi had forged close ties with Hadi since the latter served as airbase commander in Surakarta, Central Java, where Jokowi was mayor in 2011. In 2014, Hadi received a strategic position within Jokowi’s circle as his military secretary.
Some analysts argue it is normal, and even a form of political capital, for the President to have an officer he can trust to control the military, particularly prior to the regional elections this year and the 2019 presidential election.
In addition, political aspirations, as shown by some higher ranking officers such as former commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo and Lt. Gen (ret.) Edy Rahmayadi with their controversial statements and actions, would generate a counterproductive image for Jokowi’s administration prior to next year’s presidential election.
Therefore, in dealing with the political aspirations of generals one plausible option is to handpick a high-ranking military officer, as Jokowi has done in choosing his longtime friend Hadi.
The TNI is no stranger to personalized, rather than institutionalized, control of the military. The former has been the model of civil-military relations in Indonesia, even after the New Order’s downfall.
This hand-picked selection of military leaders results in strong political control over the military, particularly in maintaining TNI’s neutrality prior to the local elections this year and, most importantly, next year’s presidential election.
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