The handover of the position of Head of the Indonesian National Armed\nForces Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS TNI) from Lieutenant General\nYudi Abrimantyo to TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto on Wednesday\n(25\/3) is seen not merely as a routine administrative rotation. This\nabrupt step serves as a strong signal of internal military upheaval\nfollowing suspicions of involvement by four BAIS personnel in the acid\nattack case against Kontras activist Andrie Yunus.<\/p>\n
Political and military analyst from Universitas Nasional (Unas),\nSelamat Ginting, assesses this incident as a serious test for the TNI,\nboth in terms of internal discipline and institutional legitimacy in the\neyes of the public. Moreover, this case involves intelligence elements\nthat should operate in silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen actors from this \u2018silent\u2019 domain instead emerge in a blatant\nviolence case in the public sphere, what is at stake is not just\nindividuals, but the credibility of the system,\u201d Selamat stated on\nThursday (26\/3).<\/p>\n
The decision to hand over the BAIS command directly to the TNI\nCommander reflects a crisis management pattern for rapid stabilisation.\nIn the military structure, violations in a strategic unit like BAIS have\nthe potential to disrupt the chain of command and information\nsecurity.<\/p>\n
This takeover also indicates two crucial aspects. First, the case is\nviewed as highly serious, necessitating handling at the highest level,\nand efforts at \u2018organisational sterilisation\u2019 to prevent internal\nfriction that could hinder the legal process.<\/p>\n
This step is also seen as a pragmatic effort by President Prabowo\nSubianto, who has instructed TNI Headquarters to thoroughly investigate\nthe case. \u201cIf not handled quickly and transparently, this case has the\npotential to develop into a crisis of trust in the TNI,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Dispelling Impunity<\/p>\n
The involvement of intelligence personnel in violent actions against\ncivilians raises concerns about mission creep or a shift in function\nfrom strategic analysis to illegal operational actions. Selamat assesses\nthat this deviation must be fully corrected to avoid damaging military\nprofessionalism.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf not corrected firmly, this could damage military professionalism\nand blur the boundaries between state operations and criminal acts,\u201d he\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Now, attention is focused on the military court. The transparency of\nthe legal process against the four suspected perpetrators, namely\nCaptain NDP, First Lieutenant SL, First Lieutenant BHW, and Sergeant ES,\nwill determine whether the stigma of impunity within the military can be\neliminated or strengthened.<\/p>\n
Previously, TNI Information Centre Head Major General Aulia Dwi\nNasrullah confirmed the position handover as a form of institutional\naccountability.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we need to state here that as a form of accountability, today the\nhandover of the BAIS Head position has been carried out,\u201d Aulia said\nduring a press conference at TNI Headquarters, Cilangkap, East Jakarta,\non Wednesday (25\/3). (Ant\/P-2)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/handover-of-tni-bais-chiefs-position-stakes-military-legitimacy-1774529486", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }