Prabowo awarded four-star general rank by Jokowi, who fends off talk of a political transaction
Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, who's set to become Indonesia’s next president, was given the rank of honorary four-star general. Critics call the move “perplexing” given his earlier discharge from the military.
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SINGAPORE: Indonesia defence minister Prabowo Subianto was on Wednesday (Feb 28) conferred the rank of four-star general by President Joko Widodo, a move that stirred controversy given Mr Prabowo’s discharge from the military 26 years ago.
Human rights groups criticised the award, given his alleged role in the forced disappearance of activists in the late 1990s. Political experts, meanwhile, have called Mr Widodo’s latest manoeuvre “perplexing” and “unnecessary”.
The incumbent president, however, parried claims that the move is a political transaction. “If this is a political transaction, it would be given before the election. However, this was given after the election. Those assumptions are wrong,” Mr Widodo said at the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, where the ceremony was held.
“I would like to award Mr Prabowo Subianto as a form of appreciation for his service to the people, the nation and the state,” said Mr Widodo, adding that it was a recommendation from TNI commander, General Agus Subiyanto.
Indonesia held its presidential and legislative elections on Feb 14, and the official vote count so far as well as unofficial quick counts have pointed to a landslide victory by Mr Prabowo over his rivals, Mr Anies Baswedan and Mr Ganjar Pranowo.
Mr Prabowo, who was a retired three-star general, quipped when reporters asked how he felt about being honorary general: “The burden (is) a bit heavy.”
Mr Usman Hamid, executive director of human rights non-governmental organisation (NGO) Amnesty International Indonesia, called the conferment a “problematic decision” from a “moral and ethical perspective”, news outlet Kompas reported.
The Civil Society Coalition, consisting of various human rights activists and NGOs, called it a “wrong move”.
“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,” stated the coalition, which also condemned Mr Widodo for politicising and undermining the dignity of the TNI.
“How could a person who was dismissed by the TNI in the past for being involved or responsible for crimes against humanity today be given an honorary rank?” asked the coalition.
"TITLE APPEARS UNNECESSARY"
In August 1998, Mr Prabowo was discharged and dismissed from military service by the Officers Honorary Council (DKP) for, among other reasons, committing criminal acts and offences of a grave nature, noted Mr Made Supriatma, a visiting fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.
“The DKP's decision has never been annulled by equivalent institutions within the Indonesian military. This, undoubtedly, remains a part of Prabowo's record,” he told CNA.
“The question that needs addressing is whether Indonesian military officers can reconcile with this fact,” he said.
He added that the conferment is “unnecessary” as Mr Prabowo would have automatically assumed the role of TNI Supreme Commander if elected president.
“Frankly, the rationale behind awarding him this title is perplexing. Upon thorough examination, the title appears unnecessary and lacks relevance in Prabowo's case,” said Mr Made.
An honorary general rank is usually given by the government to appreciate commissioned officers who gave up their career after being appointed to civilian public office positions such as cabinet ministers, noted Mr Wasisto Raharjo Jati, a researcher at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency’s (BRIN) Centre for Politics.
Notable figures awarded the rank include Mr Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who is currently Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs, and former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Unlike Mr Prabowo, they were not dismissed from military service due to any violations, observed Mr Made.
Dr Connie Rahakundini Bakrie, a defence and military expert, said as far as she was aware, Indonesia’s Law No.34/2004 on the TNI, which states that there is no promotion for retirees, has not been amended.
“Also as far as I know, there has been no change to Law No. 20/2009, where it is stated that honorary promotions are given only to active soldiers and officers,” she said.
The honorary general award serves to burnish Mr Prabowo’s image and “blur” the chequered aspects of his past, said Mr Arga Pribadi Imawan, a lecturer at Gadjah Mada University.
“Prabowo's (image) as a leader is (also) increasingly strengthened, considering that this honorary title was also given to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the sixth president of Indonesia,” he said.
The move is the latest in a series of actions by Mr Widodo that analysts say are aimed at maintaining his political influence after leaving office in October.
PRABOWO'S FREE LUNCH PROGRAMME DISCUSSED IN CABINET MEETING
Earlier this week, a free lunch programme – a key promise by Mr Prabowo and his vice-presidential running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is Mr Widodo’s son – was discussed in a cabinet meeting as part of the government’s 2025 Work Plan.
Several ministers said this is because the 2025 Draft State Budget must take into account the priority programmes of the next president.
But some analysts wonder if such a discussion is justified before the official result of the presidential election.
The free lunch and milk programme for students across Indonesia – which Mr Prabowo’s campaign projects will cost up to IDR400 trillion rupiah (US$25.5 billion) annually – should only be discussed by Mr Prabowo’s future administration if he wins, and not by Mr Widodo, said Mr Jamiluddin Ritonga, a political observer from Esa Unggul University, as reported by Kompas.
The General Elections Commission will announce the official result on March 20.
