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Honoring the unrepentant: Impunity and the abuse of honorific titles
The granting of the honorary four-star general rank to Prabowo, who looks certain to succeed Jokowi in October following the Feb. 14 election, contradicts relevant regulations and human rights principles.
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President Joko “Jokowi“ Widodo (left) pins the insignia of honorary general on Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto (center) in a ceremony in Jakarta on Feb. 28, 2024. The event was held during an executive meeting of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police at the TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, Jakarta. (Antara/Bayu Pratama S)
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n Wednesday, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo awarded the highest military rank of honorary general to his defense minister Prabowo Subianto in recognition of his "service to the people, the nation and the country”.
The award was conveyed in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 13/TNI/2024, issued Feb. 21, pertaining to the special rank of honorary Indonesian Military (TNI) general. Similar honorary ranks have been bestowed upon several retired TNI officers who have served as ministers in the past, including Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Agum Gumelar, A.M. Hendropriyono and Sarwo Edhie Wibowo.
The bestowal of this honorary rank for Prabowo is said to have been recommended by TNI commander Gen. Agus Subiyanto and was carried out in accordance with Law No. 20/2009 on decorations and honorary titles. However, the granting of the honorary four-star general rank to Prabowo, who looks certain to succeed Jokowi in October following the Feb. 14 election, contradicts relevant regulations and human rights principles.
First, the term "honorary rank" is not recognized in the TNI hierarchy. Law No. 20/2009 and its implementing regulation, Government Regulation (PP) No. 35/2010, only concern "special promotions". Similarly, TNI Law No. 34/2004 and PP No. 39/2010 on the TNI administration do not recognize the term "honorary rank"; instead, these regulations only address "honorary titles".
Regardless of the terminology, the regulations stipulate that special promotions and honorary titles are only intended for active-duty officers, not retired or former TNI personnel. The only exception is the titular rank, which may be temporarily conferred on a citizen who is needed and willing to perform required duties.
Furthermore, the explanation of Article 27 of PP No. 39/2010 states that promotions for soldiers up to high-ranking officers with a two-star rank are awarded for exemplary and uninterrupted service with high dedication and performance, with the last effective rank being at least 3 months and at most 1 month before retirement. In other words, these regulations apply to active-duty soldiers who are near retirement.
Second, the conferment of the honorary general rank to Prabowo is a misguided step that reopens the wounds of the victims of the forced disappearances and kidnapping of 1997-1998. The award further obscures the accountability for serious human rights violations that occurred during the New Order regime, particularly in resolving the cases of forced disappearances and abduction in 1997-1998.
