Icha Rastika, Jakarta – Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Maruli Simanjuntak claims that many local people have asked him for new TNI (Indonesian military) post to be established in regions that he has visited.
That was conveyed by Simanjuntak when answering questions from media crews about the involvement or input from local people on the plan to build 22 new regional military commands (Kodam) around the country.
When visiting the regions, Simanjuntak has heard input from communities that want TNI posts to be established.
"If I visit a region, they ask for this. Yeah, there are many places, where they even say, ‘Pak [Sir], we'll prepare the land. Pak, please make a Kodam here, a battalion, a Koramil [sub-district military command] and so on'. Because indeed our presence is needed by them", Simanjuntak said following an Army (TNI AD) leadership meeting at the Kartini public hall in South Jakarta on Thursday February 29.
Simanjuntak also hopes that media crews can conduct a survey on the issue in the regions. "So you can really get an opinion in accordance with the wishes of the many ordinary people", said the KSAD.
He also said that many local people have asked for a new Ramil (Koramil) post.
"Almost all of them say, ‘Pak, please help making a Ramil post so that we can help to help reconcile the community, help development, help prevent stunting [in children], and so on", said Simanjuntak.
The TNI AD is indeed planning to establish regional military commands in every province in the country.
Based on a presentation delivered by TNI commander General Agus Subiyanto at a TNI-Indonesian police leadership meeting on Wednesday February 28, there will be a total of 37 regional military commands.
This means there will be an additional 22 new Kodam, complementing the 14 that already exist.
Notes
The TNI's territorial command structure mandates the deployment of military command posts and detachments at all levels of the civil administration: provincial, district, sub-district and village. This structure provides the organisational framework for the TNI to act as a political security force at all levels of society. The five respective commands are: Kodam – Komando Daerah Militer, Regional Military Command; Korem – Komando Resort Militer, Military Command at a level below the residency; Kodim – Komando Distrik Militer, District Military Command; Koramil – Komando Rayon Militer, Sub-District Military Command (Kecamatan) level and; Babinsa – Bintara Pembina Desa, Non-commissioned military officer posted in villages and wards and affiliated with the civilian administration. Since becoming Defense Minister in 2019, Prabowo Subianto, who is set to become Indonesia’s next president in October, has on several occasions pushed the idea of establishing Kodam in every province.
- Army chief backs Prabowo's plan to expand Suharto era territorial military commands. Kompas.com – February 10, 2023
- Prabowo plans big expansion of Suharto era territorial military commands. CNN Indonesia – January 28, 2023
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Klaim Banyak Warga Minta Dibangun Pos TNI, KSAD Maruli: Kehadiran Kami Diperlukan".]
