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Jokowi revives deputy commander post for Indonesian Military
The country last had a military deputy commander around two decades ago.
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Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto salutes former defense minister Ryamizard Ryacudu (second from right) and former vice president and retired Army general Try Sutrisno (right) during a gathering at TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta. (Antara/Yulius Satria Wijaya)
T
he Indonesian Military (TNI) is set to see the return of a deputy commander now that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has decided to bring back the position after around two decades of the position's removal.
Jokowi signed on Oct. 18 Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 66/2019 on the TNI’s organizational structure mandating the return of a deputy commander to assist the TNI commander in leading the military.
The Perpres, a copy of which can accessed through the State Secretariat’s website, setneg.go.id, replaces a regulation on the same matter that was issued in July.
Article 13 of the Perpres stipulates that the leadership of the TNI ─ which supervises the Army, Navy and Air Force ─ comprise a commander and deputy commander.
Only a four-star general, admiral or marshal are eligible to hold the deputy commander post, according to the regulation.
The deputy commander is responsible for assisting the TNI commander in various matters related to, among other things, the implementation of state defense policies, the organizational arrangement of the TNI and the development of military strategy.
The second in command is also given the mandate to carry out the commander’s duties when the latter is unavailable.
The deputy commander position was created in 1998 when Wiranto led the military, which was then known as the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI), during which he also served as defense minister.
The last person to serve as deputy commander position was Fachrul Razi before then president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid removed the post in September 2000 to streamline the TNI.
Fachrul now serves as the religious affairs minister in Jokowi’s second-term Cabinet. Meanwhile, the TNI commander position is now filled by Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto. (afr)
