Confirmation of TNI-Polri Neutrality

KOMPAS/SAMUEL OKTORA

National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian (right) and Indonesian Military commander Air Chief Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto (left) walk to the Sudirman Grand Ballroom in Bandung City, West Java, on Saturday. The police chief and the military commander briefed around 3,000 police and military personnel in West Java and Banten on the importance of synergy to safeguard the regional elections, Asian Games and presidential election in 2019.

The visit by National Police (Polri) Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian and Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto to several regions is a sign of cohesiveness between the TNI and Polri.

Besides displaying signs of cohesiveness, Tito and Hadi\'s visits, accompanied by Army Chief of Staff (TNI) Gen. Mulyono, reiterate the stance of the TNI and Polri to remain neutral during the regional elections in 2018 and presidential election in 2019. The unity of both TNI and Polri leaders has helped this nation to remain in a favorable situation. Political stability has been maintained and the security situation remains under control.

A total of 171 regional elections will be held in Indonesia on June 27, 2018, including in three major provinces, namely West Java, Central Java and East Java. Outside Java, elections will take place in North Sumatra and South Sulawesi. The regional elections are not the first in Indonesia so there is no need to worry about it. Meanwhile, the simultaneous elections, including the presidential election, will be held on April 27, 2019.

The open statement or statement in front of TNI-Polri members from Hadi and Tito must also be happen in the field. Facts show that a number of high-ranking TNI and Polri officers, after they retire or resign, participate in democratic elections. Neutrality should not be just in speeches. A concrete parameter and guidance is needed about what is meant by TNI and Polri political neutrality and on who will monitor the behavior of TNI and police personnel in the field.

TNI and Polri politics is state politics. Their members have no right to vote or be elected. The TNI and Polri should be able to continuously maintain security in the country. They must stand above all groups and maintain the glue of the plurality of the nation.

The implementation of the regional elections in 2018 and the presidential election in 2019 is an important stage in the process of democratic consolidation. In the democratic consolidation process, the role of TNI-Polri neutrality becomes very significant. Being neutral is not about allowing all freedom for the sake of freedom itself.

Freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Constitution. However, it should also be understood that freedom of expression has legal consequences. The National Police should also be more careful and professional and not discriminatory in upholding the law.

The two institutions continue to be publicly perceived as institutions with a positive image. Since the reformation, based on results of the Kompas R&D survey, March 21-April 4, 2018, TNI\'s image is in the positive with a rating of 93.2 percent, while Polri’s image is at 72.2 percent. Polri is ranked third under the TNI and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

The positive perception by the public is a form of social capital the TNI and Polri need to keep working hard to uphold the ideology of Pancasila and the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) in a democratic system. We believe that with TNI-Polri cohesiveness, this nation will develop into a country with a mature democracy.