February 29, 2024
JAKARTA – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has promoted Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto to the rank of honorary general, the highest in the Indonesian Military (TNI).
The President awarded the title of four-star general to Prabowo, a former lieutenant general of the Indonesia Army, during an executive meeting of the TNI and the National Police on Wednesday at the TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.
“This rank is an appreciation and affirmation [of Prabowo’s] service to the people, the nation and the country,” Jokowi said in his speech to mark the occasion.
The President then pinned the four-star insignia to Prabowo’s shoulders, who attended the event in the Army’s full dress uniform.
Jokowi told reporters later that the honorary rank was awarded following a lengthy verification process in accordance with the 2009 TNI Law, upon a recommendation from TNI commander Gen. Agus Subiyanto.
“The TNI commander suggested that Pak [Mr.] Prabowo be awarded with the honorary rank,” he said.
Among the other high-ranking military officers conferred the special promotion to four-star general were: former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief AM Hendropriyono and Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.
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Defense Ministry spokesperson Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak had earlier confirmed Prabowo’s promotion to honorary general, underlining that the procedure followed the 2009 TNI Law.
“The rank of honorary general for Prabowo is recognition for his dedication and contribution to the country’s military and defense affairs,” Dahnil said on Tuesday, as quoted by Antara.
But his promotion has drawn criticism from human rights activists, who said that honoring Prabowo, who was dishonorably dismissed from the military in 1998 for allegedly ordering the abduction of pro-democracy activists, would tarnish Jokowi’s legacy.
Responding to the criticism, the President said other former TNI officers had been promoted to an honorary rank.
He also dismissed speculation that Prabowo’s promotion was part of a political transaction.
“If this was a transaction, I’d have given it before the election. We gave it now [to avoid] any such assumptions,” Jokowi said.
Prabowo, who made his third bid for the presidency in the 2024 general election on Feb. 14 alongside Jokowi’s eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is projected to win the race, according to the unofficial results of credible pollsters.