TIME.CO, Jakarta -Center for Intermestic and Diplomatic Engagement (CIDE) chief Anton Aliabbas said Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Yudo Margono has a series of assignments after being appointed commander of the TNI to later replace General Andika Perkasa.
According to Anton, Yudo should be able to implement policies regarding changes in the approach to dealing with conflicts Papua. According to him, the reorientation of the military in Papua and West Papua has yet to be seen clearly. “This policy is a crucial touchstone for the future commander-in-chief,” Anton said in his statement on Monday, Nov. 28, 2022.
He believes that the political approach to the Papuan conflict is important because this issue has not changed significantly. On the other hand, the Papua issue is still a significant national security issue.
As for the clarity regarding the non-violent approach and reorientation of the military after the formation of the New Autonomous Region (DOB) in Papua, according to Anton, it needs to be considered. According to him, so far there have been rumors about plans to add a territorial command to Bumi Cenderawasih.
Dynamics of the South China Sea
Anton said that the talk of this reorientation had previously been expressed by General Andika Perkasa at the beginning of his mandate. Army Chief of Staff Dudung Abdurachman said Anton also mentioned the humanist approach in Papua. “So that the statement doesn’t stop at just words, the institutionalization of these words is important,” he said.
In addition to the conflict in Papua, Anton said Yudo also needs to pay attention to the dynamics in the South China Sea and East Asia regions that are on the rise. According to him, it would be good for Yudo to strengthen the interoperability of the Joint Regional Defense Command (Kogabwilhan). After all, as the former commander of Kogabwilhan 1, Yudo more or less understands the challenges faced by the main command of TNI operations.
“For this reason, strengthening the interoperability and use of combined TNI forces is important to increase the readiness of militaries to face escalating threats, dispute dynamics or maritime strategic surprises,” he said.
The welfare of the TNI soldiers is another task for Yudo. Anton explained that this welfare is not necessarily interpreted as an increase in income: “It is important to concretely discuss the integration of the issue of children’s education into the soldier’s transfer/promotion program to improve the facility of financial/credit financing.”
DPR Chairman Puan Maharani said KSAL Admiral Yudo Margono was the name proposed by President Joko Widodo as a candidate for TNI commander to replace General Andika Perkasa. Andika’s term will end on December 31, 2022.
Puan said he received the presidential letter (surpres) from the Palace today through Minister of State Secretary Pratikno. “I received directly from the Minister of the Secretary of State, I will announce that the President’s proposed name to replace TNI Commanding General Andika Perkasa is TNI Admiral Yudo Margono, Naval Chief of Staff,” Puan said at the DPR RI building, Monday November 28, 2022.
Furthermore, Puan said, this presidential letter will be followed by the DPR with the task of the Defense Commission to implement a replacement mechanism TNI Commander. One way is to keep a test fit and appropriate aka test fit and appropriate. “We will assign Commission I to carry out the related mechanisms,” she said.
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