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Megawati takes aim at plan for more regional military commands
Speaking at an event organized by the government’s National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) over the weekend, Megawati said there was no justification for the plan, especially as the country was not facing the prospect of war.
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Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri delivers a speech at the party’s golden jubilee celebration at the Jakarta International Expo in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Jan. 10. (Screenshot from/PDI Perjuangan YouTube channel)
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ndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chair Megawati Soekarnoputri has spoken out against the government's plan to expand the Indonesian Army’s organizational structure by establishing a regional military command (Kodam) in each province.
Speaking at an event organized by the government’s National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) over the weekend, Megawati said there was no justification for the plan, especially as the country was not facing the prospect of war.
"They say that there will be one command in one region. I say, cut it off. We're not at war with anybody, first of all. Secondly, are we going to war?" Megawati said in her speech.
The senior PDI-P politician said the Indonesian Military (TNI) should focus on preventing war and conflict.
"Each individual branch [of the military] must be really good. They shouldn’t pursue their own agenda and shouldn’t enrich themselves," Megawati said.
The country currently has 15 regional military commands across its 38 provinces, including two commands responsible for four recently created provinces in Papua and West Papua. Some of the commands cover a single province while others operate in two to five provinces.
