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Army general linked to Jokowi's inner circle appointed new Pangkostrad
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo departs for Natuna, Riau Islands, to witness military exercises conducted by the Army's Strategic Reserves Command’s (Kostrad) Quick Reaction Strike Force (PPRC) on May 19.
(Courtesy of the Presidential Office/File)
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span roboto="" style="display: inline !important; float: none; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(49, 53, 52); font-family: ">Former Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) commander Lt. Gen. Andika Perkasa has been appointed the new Army Strategic Reserves commander (Pangkostrad), a move that may strengthen the Presidential Palace’s influence on the military ahead of the 2019 elections.
The son-in-law of former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Hendropriyono, a close aide to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, will replace Lt. Gen. Agus Kriswanto, who is entering retirement.
The strategic position will give him the authority to oversee all army commands and conduct defense and security operations with other forces in the military.
“There is a tour of duty among high-ranking officers and it includes Lt. Gen. Andika Perkasa,” said Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesperson Maj. Gen. M. Sabrar Fadhilah as quoted by antaranews.com.
Andika served as Paspampres chief right after Jokowi took office. He was promoted to a three-star general and appointed to lead the Military Education and Training Command in Bandung (Kodiklat) earlier this year, making him among the army’s brightest stars and predicted to become a future military leader.
Read also: Andika Perkasa inaugurated as new Paspampres commander
Critics, however, attribute his rapid rise in the military to Hendropriyono’s position in the inner circle of the Presidential Palace. Hendropriyono’s son, Diaz, currently leads the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI), a supporting political party to the government.
Backed by the PKPI and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), making a majority in the House of Representatives, President Jokowi is seeking reelection next year.
