Singapore: President Joko Widodo granted Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto the title of four-star general on Wednesday, February 28. Given Mr. Prabowo’s 26-year military discharge, the announcement caused some criticism.
Given his suspected involvement in the forcible abduction of activists in the late 1990s, human rights organizations criticized the prize. Meanwhile, political analysts have referred to Mr. Widodo’s most recent move as “perplexing” and “unnecessary.”
On the other hand, the president in office asserts that the action is a political deal. “This would be supplied before to the election if it were a political transaction. But this was said following the election. At the event conducted at the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, Mr. Widodo said, “Those assumptions are wrong.” “On behalf of the people, the nation, and the state, I would like to present Mr. Prabowo Subianto with this award as a token of our appreciation,” Mr. Widodo stated, citing the TNI commander General Agus Subiyanto’s proposal.
On February 14, Indonesia conducted elections for the presidency and legislature. According to both the official and unofficial rapid counts, Mr. Prabowo easily defeated Mr. Anies Baswedan and Mr. Ganjar Pranowo.
When reporters questioned retired three-star general Mr. Prabowo about his feelings about being an honorary general, he joked, saying, “The burden (is) a bit heavy.”
According to news outlet Kompas, Mr. Usman Hamid, executive director of human rights non-governmental organization (NGO) Amnesty International Indonesia, referred to the award as a “problematic decision” from a “moral and ethical perspective.” It was deemed a “wrong move” by the Civil Society Coalition, which is made up of many NGOs and human rights advocates.The coalition denounced Mr. Widodo for politicizing and lowering the dignity of the TNI and said, “The title is more of an electoral transaction political move by President Joko Widodo to annul (Mr. Prabowo’s) involvement in past gross human rights violations.”
“What right does a person have to an honorary rank when they were fired by the TNI for their role in or responsibility for crimes against humanity in the past?” the coalition questioned.
The Officers Honorary Council (DKP) discharged and dismissed Mr. Prabowo from military duty in August 1998 for a variety of reasons, including serious crimes and offenses, according to Mr. Made Supriatma, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.
“Equivalent organizations within the Indonesian military have never overturned the DKP’s judgment. Prabowo’s record still includes this, without a doubt, he informed CNA.
“It is necessary to address the question of whether Indonesian military officers can come to terms with this reality,” he stated.
The conferment is “unnecessary,” he continued, as Mr. Prabowo would have taken on the position of TNI Supreme Commander if elected president. To be honest, I don’t understand why this title was given to him. After careful analysis, the title seems superfluous and irrelevant in Prabowo’s case, Mr. Made stated.
According to Mr. Wasisto Raharjo Jati, a researcher at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency’s (BRIN) Center for Politics, the government typically bestows an honorary general rank on commissioned officers who renounced their careers after being appointed to civilian public office positions, such as cabinet ministers. Notable individuals to receive this title are former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Mr. Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who serves as the Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs at the moment. He noted that, in contrast to Mr. Prabowo, they had no infractions that resulted in their discharge from the military.
The TNI’s Law No. 34/2004, which stipulates that retirees are not eligible for promotion, has not, as far as Dr. Connie Rahakundini Bakrie, a specialist in defense and military affairs, knows, been modified. The law No. 20/2009, which states that only active troops and officers are eligible for honorary promotions, has not, as far as I’m aware, been amended, the woman added.
Lecturer at Gadjah Mada University Mr. Arga Pribadi Imawan stated that the honorary general award is intended to enhance Mr. Prabowo’s reputation and “blur” the tumultuous parts of his history. He stated, “Prabowo’s (image) as a leader is (also) increasingly strengthened, considering that Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the sixth president of Indonesia, was also granted this honorary title.” After leaving government in October, Mr. Widodo has taken a number of moves, the most recent of which observers think are intended to help him retain his political clout.
THE FREE LUNCH PROGRAMME OF PRABOWO WAS DISCUSSED IN THE CABINET MEETING
As part of the government’s 2025 Work Plan, a cabinet meeting earlier this week addressed the free lunch program, which is a major commitment made by Mr. Prabowo and his vice presidential running mate, Mr. Widodo’s son Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
According to a number of ministries, this is because the future president’s top priorities for the 2025 Draft State Budget need to be considered.
However, other observers question whether this kind of conversation is warranted prior to the formal announcement of the presidential election outcome.
According to Kompas, political observer Mr. Jamiluddin Ritonga of Esa Unggul University stated that Mr. Prabowo’s future administration, should he win, should be the one to discuss the free lunch and milk program for students throughout Indonesia, which his campaign has estimated would cost up to IDR400 trillion rupiah (US$25.5 billion) annually. Mr. Widodo should not discuss this program.
On March 20, the official results will be declared by the General Elections Commission.
