Directives of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Commemorative Ceremony of the 76th Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) Day, 5 October 2021 at Merdeka Palace, Special Capital Region of Jakarta
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good morning,
May peace be upon us all,
Shalom,
Om Swastiastu,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of virtue.
Distinguished Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia and Ibu Wury Ma’ruf Amin,
Distinguished Ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet,
Distinguished Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI),
Distinguished Chief of the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia,
Distinguished Chief of Staff of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force,
All TNI personnel and big family of TNI across the country,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
First and foremost, on behalf of the people, the nation, and the state, allow me to congratulate the Indonesian National Defense Forces on its 76th anniversary.
The people, the nation, and the state also join me in expressing our sincerest appreciation to the TNI who have always been at the forefront in protecting national sovereignty, safeguarding the territorial integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia based on Pancasila (Indonesia’s state philosophy) and the 1945 Constitution, and protecting the nation and people of Indonesia against all threats and disturbances.
Distinguished TNI personnel,
To date, we are still shadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The fight against COVID-19 is akin to a prolonged war that drains our energy, mind, and fighting spirit. The war also calls for vigilance, speed, synergy, and the use of science and technology.
Our success in tackling COVID-19 is inseparable from the significant role that the TNI plays. The TNI has always shown its professionalism in every duty. Individual abilities, unit abilities, science and technology, including defense equipment, have been utilized and deployed in carrying out every task assigned.
I also order the TNI to always heighten their vigilance in encountering a wider spectrum of threats, including violations of sovereignty, theft of natural resources at sea, radicalism, terrorism, cyber threats, and biological threats, as well as natural disasters.
Distinguished TNI Personnel and Retired TNI Personnel,
In facing a wider spectrum of threats, we must continue to carry out defense transformation in order to lay a foundation to form modern defense capabilities that are relevant with the latest military technology development.
To that end, the TNI can transform into Indonesia’s defense forces capable of playing a role in regional, as well as global strategic environments. Strengthened strategic culture of TNI personnel and officers must remain the ultimate foundation of defense transformation, namely the TNI that is united with the people, with the people’s defense and security system that is actively defensive with multiple layers of defense, and makes the most of military technology and well-planned defense investments.
Modernization in the defense sector must also be coupled with breakthrough in economic management and defense investments. Let me underscore that we must shift from implementing defense spending policies to implementing long-term defense investment policies that are systematically designed as well as consistently and sustainably implemented.
Accordingly, I order [the TNI] to continue to adopt and innovate the most sophisticated technologies in our country, to be proactive in the global defense industry consortium, to uphold the spirit of independence and strengthening domestic defense industry to build stronger Indonesian defense forces.
Once again, happy 76th anniversary of the Indonesian National Defense Forces.
We wish you the best in your duties and in serving the state and the nation.
May God always be with us.
Long live the Indonesian National Defense Forces.
Unite, fight, and we will win.
I thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (DH/EP)