By: Rizal Arifin *
Presidential candidate number 02, Prabowo Subianto said that the Army profession was less noble. This was stated in the dialogue between Paslon President and Vice President with the Health Community. It compared the profession of health workers with the army. According to Prabowo, the health work profession is a noble job because it is related to human life.
“Brothers and sisters on profession vows, so work in the health sector is actually a noble job because you are dealing with saving lives,” said Prabowo. “Actually the army needs work, but it is also somewhat less noble, sorry, I am not loyal if possible, but we (the army) have the duty to eliminate lives,” said Prabowo.
He stated this statement with health workers attended by 7 organizations, namely the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), the Indonesian Dentist Association (PDGI) Indonesian Pharmacist Association (IAI), the Association of Public Health Experts (IAKMI), the Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI), Indonesian National Nurses Association (PPNI) and Indonesian Nutritionists Association (Persagi).
Prabowo explained that the Army did have a duty to kill someone who was an enemy of the nation. However, he continued, the army was prohibited from killing civilians. Prabowo continued, the righteous soldiers defended the nation and people of Indonesia. He said the army must not defend one group only.
Prabowo’s insinuation of the army profession had insulted, harassed and cornered the army. Because TNI soldiers defend this nation and state not always by eliminating the lives of others, but many things are done by the army to guard the NKRI. Insult to the profession is not just this time, it has been done repeatedly by Prabowo Subianto and intentionally.
In fact, we know that Prabowo Subianto when he was an active soldier killed many civilians from activists and students. This shows that Prabowo did not reflect on his actions, so it was inappropriate for him to issue a statement as if he had never carried out a massacre of innocent civilians.
Deputy Director of Information and Publication of TKN Jokowi – Ma’ruf Pair, First Marshal (Ret.) Dwi Badarmanto criticized Prabowo’s statement that the TNI was a less noble profession. He considered that it was inappropriate for Prabowo, who was a retired Three Star General of the TNI, to deliver the sentence in public. Dwi stressed that all work is very noble, including being a TNI soldier. The duty of TNI personnel in his opinion is noble because it has the task of protecting all Indonesian citizens and maintaining the sovereignty of the NKRI. Not infrequently, TNI personnel must sacrifice their lives in order to protect and maintain the sovereignty of the NKRI from the undermining of outside interference.
“That’s just his confession. The TNI is working for national defense, anyone who will try – try to destroy the country, the TNI is in front. To protect Indonesian citizens it is the duty of the TNI, “he said.
The former Head of the Indonesian Air Force’s Information Agency then brought up Prabowo’s career which was incomplete when serving in the TNI so that he made inappropriate statements in public.
It is known, based on the Decree of the Honorary Board of Trustees (DKP) numbered KEP / 03 / VII / 1988 / DKP in 1998, then mentioned the considerations that underlie the recommendation for Prabowo’s dismissal. The letter mentioned that there was abuse of authority and violations of procedures, such as the neglect of the operating system and legal discipline in the ABRI environment.
“How is the TNI not a noble job? Is it because he was not complete in the TNI so he said that, “he said.
Prabowo’s mistake was about assigning the Task Force ‘Rose Team’ to kidnap several pro-democracy activists. The DKP also mentions Prabowo’s other mistakes, namely exceeding authority by carrying out national stability control operations. The operation was carried out repeatedly in Aceh, Papua, and the President’s security in Vancouver, Canada by Kopassus.
Prabowo was also considered guilty / not disciplined on duty, because he often traveled abroad without permission from Kasad or ABRI Commander. Based on a number of actions, DKP considered that Prabowo had ignored the operating system, hierarchy and discipline in the military.
The Director of Imparsial, Al Araf also responded to Prabowo’s remarks which stated that army work was not noble because it killed people. While the work of health workers is noble because it saves lives. However, for Al Araf, to assess the work and duties of money soldiers it is said that ‘killing people’ needs to be seen from other contexts.
“If it is outside the war, it is criminal, human rights violations, human rights crimes, if it is outside the combatants. I am confused about interpreting Prabowo’s statement, but what is more understood is their duty to prepare for war, “Al Araf said.
He also said that the duty and function of the army is to turn off opponents, but all that must remain in reference to humanitarian law and applicable human rights law.
“But only to those who are members of combatants, even then if the situation and conditions are in a condition of war, and certain situations of killing opponents who are powerless in humanitarian law are also not allowed. That means there are procedures for war in the present era, “Al Araf said.
Therefore, Al Araf asserted that killing war opponents outside the applicable arturan can be called a criminal act.
- The author is an observer of social and political problems