Behind the Change in TNI BAIS Head, Transparency and Law Enforcement Questioned

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The replacement of the Head of the TNI Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS), Lieutenant General TNI Yudi Abrimantyo, has come under scrutiny following the exposure of four BAIS soldiers’ involvement in an acid attack on the Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Andrie Yunus.

TNI views this step as a form of institutional accountability.

The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Headquarters confirmed that the handover of the BAIS Head position was carried out in response to the case.

TNI’s Head of Information Centre (Kapuspen), Major General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah, stated that the action represents accountability.

“As a form of accountability, today the handover of the BAIS Head position has been carried out,” Aulia said during a press conference at TNI Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on Wednesday (25/3/2026).

However, TNI Headquarters has not clarified whether the handover was due to a dismissal.

To date, no explanation has been provided regarding the replacement for Lieutenant General TNI Yudi Abrimantyo as BAIS Head.

The lack of clarity on the position’s status and successor has raised public questions about Yudi Abrimantyo’s role in the command structure and the direction of the case’s handling moving forward.

Political and military analyst from Universitas Nasional (Unas), Selamat Ginting, assessed that the BAIS Head’s resignation reflects a classic pattern in military organisational crisis management.

“Centralisation of control for rapid stabilisation,” said Selamat Ginting on Thursday (26/3/2026).

According to him, violations by military personnel are never seen merely as individual actions because they have the potential to affect the chain of command, unit cohesion, and information security.

“This step can be read as an organisational sterilisation effort, cleaning up potential conflict residues within BAIS to maintain stability,” he stated.

He also assessed that the move has a political dimension because the acid attack case carries strong emotional resonance in society and has the potential to be politicised.

“TNI is trying to send a message that the institution does not tolerate violations, even if they involve strategic units,” Selamat explained.