President Jokowi Tells TNI to Maintain Neutrality

President Jokowi accompanied by TNI Commander Hadi Tjahjanto answers reporters’ questions, Bandung, West Java, Monday (26/11). (Photo by: Presidential Secretariat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo asserted that the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) must maintain its neutrality. In addition, political stability and security are crucial in the development both for now, and medium and long terms.

This was enunciated by the President to reporters after delivering an internal direction to the participants of the 2018 Centralized Briefing for Commanders of Military Region Command (Danrem) and Commanders of Regional Military Command (Dandim), at the Infantry Armament Center (Pussenif), the Military Education and Training Command (Kodiklat) of the Army, Bandung, Monday (26/11).

“This means that the neutrality of the TNI must be maintained,” said the President.

Regarding the issue of world change, the President said that the world is changing rapidly. Therefore, it is very important to respond, to plan for the existing changes.

The President went on to say that the TNI may carry out research on the security defense strategy in the future, for example, whether to move headquarters to the east, to the west, or to the north. “This all requires study and research so that it can be decided immediately where we should go,” he said, adding that with the big changes, both global political and economic changes, we must respond them with a big strategy as well, particularly in the budget sector.

Also accompanying the President on the occasion were Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, and Special Staff to the President Ari Dwipayana. (Bureau of Press, Media, & Information/EN).

Translated by: Muhardi

Edited by: Mia Medyana B.